“Has anyone tried weighing both types of setups to see how they compare in real life?”

Alcohol for 12 meals = 9 oz (in weight; .75 oz/meal, this includes ~30% extra)
Alcy stove, windscreen, pot support = 1.5 oz
Alcy container for 9oz = 1 oz
Total weight on 1st day = 11.5oz
Total weight end of 7th day = 2.5oz depending on how much alcy left over.

Average carried weight = 7.0 oz/day

Giga fuel container full weight = 7oz (burn 1/4oz)
Giga stove = 3.6oz
Total weight on 1st day = 10.6 oz
Total weight on end of 7th day = 7.6oz

Average carried weight = 9.1oz/day

A good alcohol setup is always lighter than canister.

When people first try an alcohol stove, they may base all their conclusions on it. So if it’s a poor performer people give up. Titanium alcy stoves are also poor performers. If an alcy stove doesn’t have to be primed and can be easily lit at 0F, then it’s a good setup IMHO. Plus, with alcy you don’t have to worry about using a ½ or ¼ filled canister and thus requiring a 2nd canister for backup. And money is saved . Also, with alcy, fuel containers are reusable . Another bonus with the alcy is cold performance is much better than the Giga.

-Barry