Cool white at the same output(to keep simple 1000lm) will appear brighter to the eye, but colours will not be as vivid, so even though you may loose 10% brightness, its not quite as simple as colours look better and more true to the real thing. You will get past the futuristic bit as it looks washed out.
Thats 5000k so kind of cool side of neutral
Thats 6500k cool white
See the colour difference? and its better in real life as thats on a phone
1000lm of neutral white or 1000lm of cool white will dazzle someone regardless, its completely subjective with no rights or wrongs, just personal preferences. I like cool white in some case, but prefer more 4000-5000k for colours, the little lost in output(who cares if its 10,000lm or 9,000lm as your eyes wont tell much at all, yet the colour difference will give more details back to your brain.
1990's bulbs might be 3000k so warm in tint, very high cri=great for colour. 1990's flashlights are lame in comparison for output, so nothing to even compare to today..............you were lucky for 30lm from 4x D cell light.
Definitely not an acquired taste, in fact the opposite, cool white fans on here would be in the minority as here we know better. General public do not know any different, but once enlightened it soon sinks in and then understand the benefits. Both have benefits, but more neutral is a lot easier on the eye!
Normal sun light varies continuously, dependent on time of day, cloudy or overcast. On a cloudy day or overcast, check some colours out, then on a bright sunny day(good luck with that in the UK :laughing
see how the 7000k bright sunlight fades colours.
If its bright its bright regardless of colour temp, if i strobe you with 5000lm of 4000k or 5000lm of 6000k, i will disorientate you with both.
Time will change your thoughts on things , experience in tints and outputs etc .
I have a few 6000k cool white lights and like them, no issues, i just prefer more 5000k for stuff which is still a cool white . Some class 4000k, others 5000k as neutral , iirc incan is 4000k for neutral.
I am not a tint snob, nor do i know the ins and outs as many. If you want accurate colour rendition when using your light, then take note of the K. If you just want bright white light that will be blue-ish, washed out colours then it wont be a problem. The cheap chinese junk on ebay are great example of crap leds(usually fake) but if not, ringy ice cold tints .
Very subjective again, my advice is try for yourself and see the light! :laughing: