Everything old is new again: https://www.ryness.co.uk/press/what-are-the-benefits-of-cold...
FWIW, CCFLs were fairly common in backlighting for LCD TVs and monitors before LEDs took over.
You may be right but it should be considered that high voltages can cause x-rays in the right conditions. There could be a rationale behind it...
The light bulb manufacturers got those outlawed via the national electrical code. It's illegal to have any wiring in a residence over 1000. Except for radio's televisions and microwaves. Which means cold cathode lighting is outlawed. Cold cathode is basically just neon, which is similar to fluorescent except unlike fluorescent you don't have a hot filament to burn out. Both requires higher voltage to operate and results somewhat lower efficiency, but with 100,000 hour life span.
Later in the 1970's they also made sure that fluorescent lamps efficiency standards mandated high color temperature (blue) phosphors. In low light residential use high color temp makes everything looks like ass.