IMO it is better to have an expandable Home Automation system in place that will allow you to do what you want, control what you want when you want it!  There are very affordable HA systems available now, like Z-Wave and Insteon that will do everything you just said you wanted and much much more.  Some examples are, lighting control, HVAC, door locks and deadbolts, security sensors, cameras, audio/video, etc.

If you get a VeraLite for $160+/- then you can expand from there with individual dimmers and light switches that control CFL's, LED's, can even dim them too.  You can get dimmable LED's for about $10 on sale nowadays.

Insteon is another great way to go and they already have dimmable but controllable LED's that just include into your network and can be controlled altogether as a group with any PC or cell phone.  All you need for Insteon is a $99 hub to network everything together plus you can have X-10 control as well.  And of course still have manual control at the switch also.

Oh btw, the Vera devices can control Insteon and X-10 as well as Z-wave if you add an insteon modem to it.

I am a home automation retailer, I sell all of the above everyday and have done so for almost 10 years now.  This HA market is getting more and more robust every year and these days, all the devices you would need for a good starter HA system can be done for less then a couple hundred dollars!  Check us out at HA World.

Hope that answers some of your questions.  Post back if you have any more.