I’ve been using the curly bulbs for years. They do seem to last forever. Have been using fluorescent for drafting for 50 years and I love the light.>People don’t realize they had it for 12 years of schooling, at work, at the supermarket...
Shortly after moving in, I had a problem with one of the light fixtures. Took out the (curly) bulb and its base was all scorched. I got rid of it immediately.
However, being an engineer, and a curious one at that, I started looking at the rest of the curly bulbs in the house. *All* of them were badly scorched. Not wanting a fire hazard, I got rid of all of them and replaced them with incandescents. No more worries. Problem Solved.
I'm not sure what brand of curly bulbs were used - they were all too badly damaged to read the manufacturer stamp. They might have been (probably were, from what I've heard of the former owner) the El Cheapo knockoffs that I see at Lowes and WalMart occasionally. But, for what money it would save me, I figure it's not worth taking the chance with them again.
For what it's worth, I've been happy with the LED's so far. Just get the "Instant On" kind, so there's not that annoying delay after you hit the switch. They do great for the recessed fixtures that I have in my ceiling...and that require an 8-foot ladder to get at. If nothing else, not needing to fool around on a ladder every few weeks will make any long-lasting bulb worthwhile.