There was more mercury in watch batteries than there was in CFLs, so "special disposal" instructions would have applied to watch batteries as well. On balance,

There was more mercury in watch batteries than there was in CFLs, so "special disposal" instructions would have applied to watch batteries as well. On balance, CFLs were lower energy and safe enough for general use. They were much better than their contemporaries for the environment. Incandescent < CFL < LED. I don't see a problem with recommending new solutions as they are found, nor recommending LEDs over CFLs.