Whether they are an actual con or not, it is clear that the justifications given are total nonsense, and the only conclusion I can think of for imposing this has to be to give an ego boost to those who can control the masses by dictating something, and having the perverted pleasure of forcing all to comply.
Arguments on efficiency ground create minimal justification since it has to assume all energy used that isn't converted to light is wasted. Which, of course, is nonsense. Domestically you turn a light on in the evening when it is cooler anyway, so the minimal amount of energy converted to heat is more likely to be useful. Especially since the nights are longer in the winter when heating is normally required. In commercial premises where they may need to remove heat during a summer day, then the chances are they use florescent lighting already.
The claim that the bulbs last longer is patently untrue. I used to buy decent quality incandescent bulbs, and they would last years. Would be amazed when one blew. I've had a number of these so called long life bulbs blow since they came in. And when they blow it is often with sparks as something screws up/shorts out in the control part. The only way one could conclude that last longer is if one compared to the cheap and nasty (and yet often curiously expensive) brands that seem to be all the shops are left with now.
And one can not seem to get a decent light output from them. Adequate is about the best you can get. Unless, maybe, one goes for the physically large size that would stick out of the lightshade and look awful.
Yes they do contain hazardous material that you should dispose of properly, although I understand the danger is minimal, and I really can't see many folk bothering. They fit in a bin easily enough.
This whole fiasco is a prime example of how the common folk are just pushed around for the fun of it these days, how despite thinking that society makes progress over the years, such incidents show we have not progressed as far as we'd like to think. All those involved in pushing this through oppressive legislation should hang their heads in shame, and go about making the U turn and allowing folk to chose the lighting of their choice, as should be the case. It is blatant government interference in things they should not be ruling on.