"cDNA constructs are lousy expressors "
I've never done large scale protein expression, but on the small scale cDNA has always worked well for me in COS, CHO, HEK, Baclavirus (insect), and e-coli (simple proteins). Expression depends in a large part on the choice of promotor. I have only had trouble once, and that was with a large transmembrane protein.
The obstacle to discovery is the illusion of knowledge.