I had to exchange my vortech today but I won't get anything other than it. It takes up very little space in the tank and one vortech gives better flow IMO than 3 koralias and 2 seios combined.
Koralias feel like a flutter against the hand, a vortech feels like a monster. But one vortech on full blast doesn't really cause havoc in my 45g cube. I don't have sand to stir up but I know two 1500gph koralias wouldn't satisfy my flow urges the same as the vortech.
The difference in cost really isn't one vortech vs 2 koralias+wavemaker. You're better off comparing 4 koralias on the wavemaker vs two vortechs. The koralias would be WAY cheaper. The vortechs would take less space. Those are the two major differences between them I think.
Are you keeping strictly SPS or a mixed tank?
Oh waves on the surface don't allways translate to waves in the rest of the tank at least with my single vortech anyways. I run my vortech on reef crest random mode which doesn't produce visible waves but gives the inverts and fish a chance to take a breather from the immense water flow here n there. Surface waves are like glimmer lines IMO
