i've been using those lights for a few years now, exclusively.  in my experience they do last longer and are easily as bright or brighter than the wattage they're replacing.  the color on some of them seem different but there are different types.

i freaked out when i read the disposal warning about them too.

i am eager to find led's but haven't found them yet. 

i certainly don't agree with government banning them, and oppose intrusive government policies like that and many others from the left and the right.  but i won't miss them personally. 

here in texas, it seems very very unlikely there will be a move on independant food supplies like you have mentioned.  there are markets everywhere.  the crosses they bear are not regulation, but the much higher prices they charge than the local markets.  how can independants compete with economies of scale?  they can't.  they can only talk about "patriotism," "quality", etc, using marketing tactics to convince shoppers to spend more.  it works for them.

lets not forget that the us subsidizes its farm economies, without which the developing world would likely eat our lunches.  i am actually in favor of these subsidies, for several reasons:  to keep variety of food species in the food supply, to maintain the country's food production capacity in case of disaster, war, whatever.  but the point is, in a real free market, the american food producer would vanish.  so that they can still sell their wares here in the us at this point seems to me to be with the blessing and helping hand of the government.

go that way really fast.
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