Originally Posted by
wontpontificate
Not so much that they use smaller tubes, it's just that the really cheap laser tubes are like really cheap lithium batteries. The manufacturers very optimistic about the actual rating.
In the case of these laser tubes, you -might- get 40w out of them, with a really good power supply, during a planetary alignment, while speaking in tongues and painting ancient runes, for about a second before you fry it.
so, technically they can call it a 40w tube, but the chances of seeing that on any practical level are punishingly slim.