We first attacked this metric with a wasteful 3-atom-stick input at 276.  Very balanced numbers, at 115G / 116C / 45A, with only a single bonder and debonder.  The sum-vibe was very good, except for the 40g spent on disposal arms.

We were quite surprised to see the first generation of this expensive, numbers-unbalanced, wasteless approach doing about the same, at 277.  It requires a mess of bonders and a calcifier, which had a much worse vibe to our eyes. But the hexarm pulls inputs absurdly quickly for the cost, and that makes all the difference.  

We ultimately found a way to drop one debonder, and that put this strategy over the top.