Christian McArdle wrote:
Don't think there's really any difference in efficiency between them and
fluorescents. And high output ones don't last forever either.

They were certainly claiming some advantage over CFL technology. They seemed
to suggest around 7 times greater efficiency, rather than 4-5 times.

This is a flat-out lie.

At the absolute best, using mixed colour LEDs, appropriately picked,
LEDs may put out a little under half the light of fluorescant lights.
(watt for watt)
'White' ones, at best, get about a third, more typically a fifth.

White LEDs are about as efficient as halogen bulbs.