I’ve equipped the plant I work at with a number of CFL’s in out of the way areas, where the lights need to be left on continuously, and guess what?
...the damn things burn out after 6-8 mos. of continuous use; just like their cheap, 4 foot long cousins do out in the shop lights...
...someone SERIOUSLY has to prove the “lifetime” of these things to justify their cost....
I've experienced that with a few off-brands, such as 'Lights of America'. But when I've used name-brand bulbs like GE, Sylvania, or Philipps, they tend to last several years. My outdoor light at my old house had a 15 watt Philipps CF bulb and it lasted about 4 years of being on from dusk to dawn, winter and summer.