Most lamps are relatively large and require a relatively expensive fixture. Ballasts are now given a noise rating. Quiet ballasts are recommended for office areas, louder and less expensive ballasts can be used in industrial facilities. Fluorescent lamps are temperature sensitive and may have difficulty starting at low temperatures. Also, lumen output drops at low and high temperatures.
Special ballasts are available for low and high temperature applications.
While dimming of fluorescents is possible, it requires special, relatively expensive ballasts.