I am far from an expert on anything to do with lighting/electronics but I am assuming the following: The potential to be better is there but it still depends on the design and materials.
- LEDs, like incandescent, rely heavily on their material and design for longevity. For instance, you have the extremes of Edison's first incandescent bulb still burning but we live with what commercial producers provide with predetermined lifespans. - I have worked with a couple of LEDs (and you sir are no LED...sorry, I couldn't resist what with all the caucus stuff going on) and certainly noted the solid state and built in simplicity providing greater potential for lifespan and integrity; but, they still depend on the design and application for ultimate lifespan and effectiveness (Or we would virtually never see those burned out segments on 3rd brake lights, etc)
So, I'm being a bit of a jerk by overdefining technicalities to eventually agree with Ginter : on LED superiority in principal. I just don't necessarily agree the commercially available products automatically are "better" because they're LEDs. The potential to be better is there but it still depends on the design and materials.
by overdefining technicalities to eventually agree with Ginter 
: on LED superiority in principal. I just don't necessarily agree the commercially available products automatically are "better" because they're LEDs. The potential to be better is there but it still depends on the design and materials.