Reinforced lower control arms vs. upgraded/tubular lower control arms?

Consensus around here seems to be that the stock LCAs have enough flex to introduce some slop into the handling, particularly when stiffer torsion bars are part of the equation.

It seems like a lot of you guys upgrade the stock arms with welded-on plates, upgraded bushings. etc. ad it seems that this does the trick.

That said, if you factor in clean-up, parts, labor (particularly if you're not an experienced welder), it's likely not much more expensive to buy "upgrade" control arms from QA1 (or others?)

What are the pros and cons of each approach?

The weakest part of the factory control arm is the cast outboard end that holds the lower ball joint. Even a mild curb bump is enough to bend it. The weld on lower plate does nothing to address that, but it does help stop the flexing of the lower stamped sheet metal parts.

The cost of purchasing both upper and lower control arms is high, but they do strengthen those components.