Me too, I love OpenALPR. But then there's no point in using the $450 IPC-HFW7442H-Z, might as well use the half priced IPC-HFW5241E-Z12E, which is actually a better choice since it has more zoom.
I went with the Z4 version since it has the higher zoom. I'm getting reads at about 150ft easily in the far lane of traffic on the 7442 from where the camera is mounted. The close lane of traffic passes right by the camera so it does not have to work to hard at that.
I also have a 5241 for LPR on an entrance road. I would love to be able to put them side by side for a comparison on the pole on the road, but logistically not really possible. Going from memory the sensor on the 7442 is 1/1.8 compared to the 1/2.8 on the 5241, and the 7442 supports a few extra streams, 4mp, and 60fps. The 7442 in my opinion handles trickier lighting conditions a bit better, like dusk and down, but that is completely my own opinion.
For most home uses, I do agree the 5241 is a better value.