You are correct; they only get so many sparks per life time...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headlam..._light_sources

As for using HID bulbs in traditional housings:

The arc light source in an HID headlamp is fundamentally different in size, shape, orientation, and luminosity distribution compared to the filament light source used in tungsten-halogen headlamps. For that reason, HID-specific optics are used to collect and distribute the light. HID burners cannot effectively or safely be installed in optics designed to take filament bulbs; doing so results in improperly-focused beam patterns and excessive glare, and is therefore illegal in almost all countries.[38]

 

something i never thought of... LED headlamps won't melt snow...


Prolonged operation above the maximum junction temperature will permanently degrade the LEDs and ultimately shorten the device's life. The need to keep LED junction temperatures low at high power levels always requires additional thermal management measures such as heatsinks and exhaust fans which are typically quite expensive.[45]

Additional facets of the thermal issues with LED headlamps reveal themselves in cold ambient temperatures. Not only must heat be removed from the rear of the headlamp so that the housing does not deform or melt, but heat must in addition be effectively applied to thaw snow and ice from the front lenses, which are not heated by the comparatively small amount of infrared radiation emitted forward with the light from LEDs.[46]


here in PA snow often accumulates while driving on the front of a vehicle... intresting... solve one problem, create another

 

This is the place. I haven't done this mod (yet), but they come highly recommended if you can stomach the cost:

http://www.lightwerkz.net/index.htm

 

do the yukon denalis still have projectors, if they do, would those fit the tahoe?

 

The Yukon front clip is different than the Tahoe. I believe as previously stated that the Esky lites will fit the Yukon.

Somewhere in the US found out last winter that their LED traffic lites didn't melt the snow trapped in them rendering them useless.

 

we have HIDs in our 07 Tahoe and there are no issues with extra glare or anything...I have drove my car in front of my wife while she was in the Tahoe and it looks just like any other truck with HIDs.
the extra clean light is A LOT better than the stock lights.

 

yea i have the 4300K in my 07 tahoe with the stock housings and have no problems yet. They just look light brighter white bulbs. Mine do not have any blue or purple in them once they warm up. I've had the blue regular bulbs also and they are no where near HID.

 

Besides the Esky, what other truck has OEM HIDs?

 

Navigators, Range Rovers, Mercedes GL's, ML's, the G wagon, FX35's FX50's Lexus RX, GX, LX (if you call them trucks).

 

I mean any other truck that has them added after - I see a lot more full size trucks with HID lights around. the extra clean bright light is a great improvement over stock. I really do not like the projector setup where you have such a light cutoff.