Dethroner Asks You: Best Non-Incandescent Light Bulbs?

It seems that California may attempt to outlaw incandescent light bulbs with the twee “How Many Legislators Does it Take to Change a Lightbulb [sic] Act?” (Seriously, that’s the name.)

There is some debate about whether this should be the sort of thing a government should legislate, but putting that aside, using less energy is an unquestionable good. But older fluorescent bulbs have traditionally provided a flickering, unpleasant light. Newer technologies like CFL bulbs (the often spiral-shaped ones) and LED bulbs are supposed to provide a light closer to that of an incandescent.

My question is simply: do any of you guys use CFLs and LEDs to the exclusion of incandescents? Are there really bulbs out there that can provide warm, full-spectrum light on the cheap?