Maybe for some, but we started lamping our house in the 90s and reached "full" lamping (all shaded lamps, with one still-working rarely-used incandescent holdout bulb, replaced) several years ago. In all that time, only 4 CFLs failed (and the latest was the oldest installed). Except for dual-lamp ceiling fixtures, we've only replaced incandescents when they failed. In that dozen-odd years we've had WAY more incandescents than CFLs fail.
Having expected a higher failure than experienced, we now have a shelf full of replacements in case they're ever needed.
There is something odd about houses with high failures and others with low; I wonder if it's related to power-quality (power factor)?
And as regarding chemical emissions, I bet these are WAY less than the old vacuum-tube TVs, radios and hi-fi sets that emitted quite distinctive odors when operating.
I don’t buy into the concept of the poison gas emissions. I agree with the other poster that is bogus scare tactics.
The high failure rate could have something to do with our electrical system in my house. We are preparing to spend some beaucoup bucks to get it up to code.