[mbesto]

Also, since on one has mentioned it yet, the go-to LED strips are from BTF-Lighting.

I personally buy them from AliExpress since I dont care if they arrive in a week as opposed to 1-2 days from Amazon.

https://btf-lighting.aliexpress.com/store/1100777574

[xattt]

The missing middle appears to be tree lights that have a traditional appearance (and don’t look like robot spaghetti). Adhesive LED light strips are meant to be only indirectly visible.

[sowbug]

These are a good stand-in: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002906547500.html

They are strip lights, but the light is mostly omnidirectional, and the strip material is flexible. If you want a dark-colored strip, which looks better on a dark-green tree, here's a non-BTF option: https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805412113378.html

[xattt]

The colours look decent, but like you said, the conductor appears out of place.

NOMA has a “smart” line of traditionally packaged lights, but these appear to use a proprietary box: https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/cat/christmas/christmas-light...

[BHSPitMonkey]

I've had a set of these (purchased from Amazon) deployed since October and we've been happy with them. The outdoor strand is run by a QuinLED Dig-Uno board and has stood up to a lot of rain so far. The wires at the end are just flush cut short with the conductors showing, so I made some attempt to weatherproof that spot just in case.