The LED UCL thread (+ the continuation) on this forum cover quite a bit. The measure of cost effectiveness really depends on what you mean. Is it primarily the total price at the time of purchase? Or would you take into account the ease/ difficulty of wiring up the entire setup, light quality, profile, operational costs over a period of time (say 10 years).

You can also place small switching power supplies under the cabinet. They are often rated 60 watts per supply and come in singles and doubles (two seperate 60 W supplies on a common baseplate). The supplies are about 1 inch high, 2 inches wide and 4 inches long. Each can then run either three 20 W low voltage under cabinet lights or six 10W lights. Pegasus Lighting has a decent selection of lights and power supplies. Avoid 120 V 'puck' type lights. The bulb filaments are very delicate, and the normal vibration of placing dishes in the cabinets will vibrate the bulbs enough to reduce their life, and at about $5 a bulb you really need them to last.

Hafele has several aluminum channels that are made to recess. Some come in specific lengths with lights already in them, several are designed for use with the tape. For 3/4" thick bottoms there is one that lays flat and protruded 1/16", another tilts slightly toward the backsplash so it sits proud 1/4" at the front. All come with diffusers. They also have several pucks that recess. The hard part with recessed is locating the wires. AS LWO suggested there are a number of nice looking ones that can be exposed. I just finished a white high gloss slab project where we had the doors set lower than the box, ordered solid stock with a bevel on the back, set the solid stock behind the doors and mounted the light rail to it. Advantage is easy and simple installation, clean look both open and closed, cleaner and cheaper than recessing the bottoms of the cabinets. Downside- you give up 3/4 to 1" in height inside the cabinet and of course you have to be working with a company that does that.

Ok I checked with my kitchen guy today they use the led tape but it seems kinda wimpy to me? Mobuddy that's a good question I asked my kitchen guy same and I'm glad I did because he told me yes before backsplash because some wiring goes behind dry wall like the kitchen remodeled mentioned above. Rhonda those look great...pricing?