Which starting method gives the highest life at fluorescent lamps?

On the smaller wattage, i.e. up to 20w, I've noticed that lamps with trigger start (aka rapid start for smaller wattage) ballasts seem to last longer in most cases with the fixtures I've used. Of course, it will depend how often they are switched on/off, but they seem to last twice as long as preheat...for the 120v reactors. The F40 seem about the same as I've seen on the fixtures at work.

From what I have read by ballast manufacturers and in other articles, programmed start (electrodes heated before start & then shut off) gives the highest lamp life, followed by rapid start, preheat, and then instant-start. However, if a lamp is lit once and then lit continuously until it fails, I would imagine instant start ballasts would give a longer life because the high OCV would keep the lamp going until the electrodes melt and the lamp loses vaccuum, whereas on other types of ballasts, the lamp would go out when the ballast can no longer supply the voltage needed to keep a steady discharge.

Thanks for the infos!

actually i think programed start would make the lamp last the longest instant start would not provide sufficient cathode heat causing it to slowly sputter away and fail after 5 years. ive witnesed it happen.