What manufacture makes good quality HID ballasts () and fluorescent ballasts () that I like to use for the future. I know Advance is one of them.

Right now I firmly believe that Osram (Formally Sylvania) makes the best fluorescent ballasts.  Followed by GE, and Philips/Advance  I've also had great luck with Sylvania/Osram HID ballasts as well, followed by Advance (Philips now)