I guess the point to my long-winded rant is that GE may still be manufacturing lighting products but they gave up on it some 20 years ago. I guess we're all blind for not seeing this day coming. I always had hope that they'd straighten out and take over as leader once again. Pretty naive of me but GE products had always run deep in my family. My grandfather had GE everything and so did my great-grandfather. My great-grandpa worked for the electric company and they too were GE nuts. GE was the best of the best and everyone swore by them. Now there are not many GE products I would put my reputation on. Their fluorescent lamps are about it. And that's only because they're better than the competition. Doesn't necessarily mean they're anything incredible...
That is essentially what has happened all around in all the industries. The stock holders and board of directors and what not want profit, and they don't care about what shortcuts have to be taken to achieve it. Brand loyalty is a thing of the past now, for many things.