Wanna know your thoughts. I'm gonna reload for the round and figure 17 hornet is prob quite a bit cheaper to reload for than 223. The 204 is a sweet round but not that cheap to reload for. I think I spent about 60 cents a round for 204
I may be biased but I love the .204.
You said "favourite" in the title, but "cheap" was the theme of your post.
Favourite = .22/250
Cheap = .223
I have owned and loaded for a couple dozen Hornets and K-Hornets (never a .17 H), they are a pain... it is easy to download my .223's to Hornet levels if I want, and I have "worked-down" reduced small game loads for all of my .22 centerfire rifles. I don't think that I will ever buy another Hornet... unless one chooses me and follows me home.
Can't help you on the .204, thus far I have been able to resist.
As for the 20 vartag and practical I'm not sure what their purpose is with the 204 ruger option. Although using a 223 case for 20 cal bullet does interest me too.. I want to reload as cheap as possible. If money were not an issue I would hands down go for the 204 it's my favourite varmint specific round. 223 has more uses with the heavier bullets