The SMD strips would work provided you aren't too picky about which fuzzy sticks you put in there. Some Acros actually do quite well as far as coloring goes in lower light situations - Cali Tort and A. austera are two that come to mind in particular. You may have to do some experimenting to find out which ones will do well in the tank and be willing to trade out ones that don't. They won't grow fast, but that's probably a good thing for a nano anyway. When you say "expensive" stick, that makes me think you want some fancy "designer" Acros which I don't think you will have much success with using the SMD strips.

If you go with the SMD, look for the 15,000K ones instead of the 50/50. I've used these ones and they put out a decent amount of light visually (never PAR tested them). Be prepared to replace the strips every couple years though - they burn out very easily. What are the dimensions of your tank? I'd be using several of the strips, not just 2 or 3.