Is Mercury A Danger In CFL bulbs?

Questions about compact fluorescent light bulbs:

1. how much mercury is in a CFL bulb vs. how much is safe exposure, vs. how much may be generated by electrical power plants

2. how to dispose of a CFL bulb when it is burnt out or broken?

non-mercury-related, but still important questions:

3. isn’t it wasteful to throw away the transformer along with the CFL bulb?

4. when does the increased cost of a CFL (upfront manufacturing costs) break-even with the energy savings?

5. should CFL vs. incandescent usage/sales be regulated and/or mandated? Or should we simply allow the competition in the free market economy to decide?

More reading: 5 Ways to Stay Safe from Mercury in CFLs at http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/eco-friendly/cfl-mercury-safety-460124