Those are absolutely awesome renders!!

I've had a similar thought in regards to regular lightbulbs, so you're probably right. It probably isn't worth the effort to recreate an exact replica when a point light inside a proper looking container will do.

What about fluorescent lights though? The glowing box is pretty simple, but it doesn't really give that multiple bulb effect that an actual light fixture would. Though I guess that just comes down to doing 3 glowing cylinders inside of a square fixture.

I'd love to know more about how you are making those holes btw, and an up shot into one of the light fixtures would be interesting to see as well.