Over the past few years, I've noticed that both the brands/options in the fluorescent market and the quality of the lamps has gotten really inconsistent. Since about when the big manufacturers left the US, there has been increased mercury starvation in lamps, shorter lifetimes, and also a big increase in duds. I don't usually buy lamps at the store, but almost every time I do, there's one that just doesn't work. It's a little annoying going to the store and not being certain that the lamps you get will work.

 At least thru a local store , they're easy to return/exchange .

I've had a newer osram tube that wasn't even filled with mercury. It glows at the ends and doesn't even blink when the starter fires.

The one that really drives me nuts is the modern "GE" T12 lamps. On rapid start ballasts, seemingly no matter what, the ends will blacken within a few minutes of running. Will not do it on a preheat ballast. I wonder if they are using a different formula for the emitters, perhaps something older from the days of preheat only tubes.

I haven't seen that, but I have only used two a tiny bit. I then gave them to a friend and both of them were completely EOL with a ton of blackening after like 6 months.