Actually I think this nonsense began with Wally World. Wally World likes smaller inventory and if they have a policy that makes the GreenieBots happy that seals the deal for them. More of these bulbs means fewer sold for a higher price. Thus lower inventory and usage of shelf space a kick which Wally World has been on for several years now for those who haven't noticed. What Wally wants the rest of the market unfortunately must follow. I rememeber reading the Wally World press release of them patting themselvees on the back for pushing the new type bulbs.
This leaves the comapnies making them with a choice. Make them for their largest retailer {Wally World} or other places like Lowes or Home Depot etc. Wally wins that fight most of the time with a few exceptions where companies stand up to them and say no. Notice as well the bulb factories have left or are leaving the U.S. about the time the push began.
For those buying the regular incandescents and stock piling like I am buy the long lasting brass plated base bulbs. They last longer or go to a lighting store and buy a case of long lasting bulbs. You'll likely get a better deal there if you can afford a case. The aluminum base bulbs don't last near as long. The brass base have bigger filaments as well because they are for commercial use. In bigger multistory buildings structural vibration is a major factor in using those type bulbs.
“Actually I think this nonsense began with Wally World.”
They sure appeared to show up at the party late. They didn’t seem to be getting on board like some of their competitors until recently.
In my area they only just started trying to price them cheap whereas Dixieline hit that market full bore many years ago in pricing and marketing.