I agree, this seems really odd. The solution should not be a modern projector with 1kW electrical power converted into heat.

The Cob array of leds is the problematic choice, while on paper you get a lot of light, you don't get a point source.

If you look at the large theater projectors, I remember laser sources (but no speckle, is this pumped phosphor?) or expensive xenon bulbs. At least 10years ago...

I remember a solution (car headlights?) of decoupling the phosphor (for converting uv to while light) from the UV Led. So you have multiple diodes pumping a small piece of phosphor for a nice bright point source. Not sure how this can be replicated open source.

Another approach (studio led lights) wasomething with glass mixing rods? You insert the light of multiple leds into a glass rod, and a uniform beam emerges. But I guess this was more to improve CRI, rather than to increase brightness/point source.