All the CFLs I have (except for 6 very very bad ones) go to full brightness instantly (or close enough that I can't tell the difference). (I use those bad ones in a bedroom fixture where the slow start is actually a feature. Made by Feit Electric - don't buy that brand.)

So if your CFLs are slow buy better ones. Walmart has good ones.

A CFL will last about 8,000 to 10,000 hours - I have to replace maybe 1 bulb a year in my house.