If I’m selling socks, I’d say it’s necessary to wear socks w/ shoes and that it’s a fashion statement. 

Ultimately, it’s going to be a battle of software. Whose code is most efficient and effective and how machine learning/neural net can improve the systems till they’re level 4/5 autonomy capable. 

And being a Musk fanboy.. my question back to the vendor would be… Musk uses Lidar on his SpaceX systems to park his Dragon spacecraft to ISS.. so I’m pretty confident he knows the ins and outs of Lidar capability and usefulness.