Here's an interesting article:

http://info.eyelighting.com/blog/bid/351000/Best-Applications-for-Mercury-Vapor-Lamps

Interesting that they knowledge that mercs often last 40 years and they knowledge the nickname "Merc". You'll never see articles like this from the major lamp manufacturers.

I like how they state the facts. Mercury vapor lighting is one of the most reliable and longest lasting light sources out there.
Also, don't forget about EYE's Moon Pulse line of mercury lamps designed for use on pulse start metal halide ballasts. From what I've read about EYE over the last couple of years, they seem like a good company that cares about quality. They really seem to know what they are talking about.

EYE/Iwasaki is a japanese company. Japan is one the few place in the world, where clear mercury lamps still accounts for the majority of outdoor lighting, primerly because of its cool greenish light, which is the preferred colour choice for outdoor lighting in Japan.
Also, SBMV lamps are the preferred lamp for household uses in Japan, compared to the rest of the world.
In Japan, reliablity is more important over efficiency, and the evidence for this, is that all of their HPS lamps, are self-ignited (Including lamps up to 1000W), and aren't requires ignitor. Morever, the FEC ignitor inside the EYE Ignitron lamps, have a thermal cut-out, despite this is redundant in the lamps, as it contains no moving parts that can wear.