I also just realized you meant high density and not Home Depot. Any issues using the high density element? I've read a lot about it being a no no, but no one talks from experience.
While it is certainly best practice to use ULWD elements, I have used standard 120v HWD elements for 8-10 years and likely over a hundred batches. I managed to badly scorch one batch, however I blame it on the circumstances more than the HWD elements. I scored a 20 gallon kettle and had done one double batch (15 gal) successfully. On my next attempt I brought the wort to boil, then had to run a few errands so I shut off power for an hour while I was away. Upon continuing my session, I believe all the trub settled and proceeded to stick on the elements and burn to hell, batch dumped. Since this was a one time event where my time to boil was increased since the wort was allowed to cool, and then the long heat time to reach boil in the heavy settled trub, I believe I know what may have caused it, I continue to use the HWD elements without issue. I believe the poster above also suffered a similar fate trying to boil 10 -12 gallons with a single 2000w element as the element was on so long to produce boil, trub settled and stuck to the element and scorched...10 - 12 gallons w/ only 2000w is a recipe for trouble. Stirring a few times while you approach boil may be a good idea to suspend the trub proteins, just a guess. I recall an incident whereby the brewer went to boil, but did so at low power for a long period of time with a LWD element and scorched, so the actual heat density was very low, but the trub had time to settle, and the long period of time approaching boil with stagnant trub produced scorching. Most incidents of scorching have an indication of unusual circumstances IMO, but there are so few it is difficult to understand exactly why it occurred.
You are correct, it is posted all over the board not to use HWD elements as they are more likely to scorch,
it is certainly best practice to use ULWD elements, but when I asked a prolific poster of this often given advice if he had ever boiled with HWD elements, he had not, but experienced scorching w/ HWD elements in a RIMS tube, and has proceeded to incorrectly IMO extrapolate that experience to all uses of HWD elements numerous times. If you search around, you will find reports of scorching using elements of all densities, i believe even ULWD elements can scorch if the the conditions are most unfavorable. I feel that scorching is produced by several factors in addition to element watt density, the amount of trub allowed to settle, and total wattage to batch size ratio as the wort takes much longer to reach boil in low wattage applications, and once boiling the trub is mixed in the rolling boil and not stagnant at the element. It is also critical to clean your elements after every brew, some reports of scorching are caused by neglected elements allowed to cake up batch after batch, this is likely even more important with HWD elements. Residue is easily removed from the element if done immediately after the boil using a scrubby pad.
A little history, I started brewing w/ electric 10-12 years ago, all this great reference materiel was not available, there was limited information and you kinda figured it out, didn't even know ULWD elements existed....I tried one HWD 2000w element and that was like watching grass grow so I tried 2 @ 2000w and it worked pretty darn well for my 1/4 keg 7.75 gallon batches, so I have stuck with that with minor adjustments, such as using a 15 gallon kettle rather than an 11 to better contain the boil. With the 11, sometimes I would get some minor splashing out of the kettle with the 4000w unregulated, with the 15, the boil is just right. That's another myth, that you must have a controller for electric brewing, while IME you just need close to the proper wattage for your kettle size and batch size and a reasonable boil is produced. The Grainfather system operates on this principle of unregulated boil at max power, as the unit is merely switched to full power to boil, and there sales aren't hurting.
So that's my experience using HWD elements, I think maybe I'll go do some brewing...w/ HWD elements
cheers
