Reading the bulb's wikipedia article, sounds like it is not really the bulb's technology that's responsible -- it is very low power (4 watts!), and has a dedicated steady power source. (I previously lived in an apartment with erratic power, and incandescent bulbs only lasted a couple weeks until I got the landlord to fix it.)
If you asked engineers today to come up with a long lasting 4 watt bulb, they'd probably do just fine.
The site reminded me from a TV documentary which stated that there was a light bulb cartel which enforced the manufacturers to build bulbs that lasted only about 1000-2000 hours to get more sales. I'd like to link to the video, but I saw it from finnish national television.
If you asked engineers today to come up with a long lasting 4 watt bulb, they'd probably do just fine.