The lights dim because they are running off battery voltage instead of alternator voltage (which has to be higher than battery voltage to keep the battery charged). I would think that sub-freezing start every morning for 5 months out of the year would be much worse on your battery than leaving your lights on for the short EOC period. My batteries still last 4 years in this climate.
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Winter daily driver, parked most days right now

Summer daily driver
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