The independent research shows that brain function (Dr. Andrew Marino and others) is measureably affected in people with no awareness of pain or other sensations from EMF exposure. It just ultimately manifests as a variety of illnesses unique to that individual. I'm pretty biased, because for over 25 years, EMI immediately hurt and was profoundly mentally disturbing, though now I have no immediate sensation at all on good days, though it does affect my autoimmune diseases later.
Tremendous improvement of emissions can be done at minimal cost when addressed early in the design phase. Texas Instruments makes motor speed control IC's for example, which intentionally slow switching times for reduced emissions. Likewise Linear Technology offers reduced EMI switching controller ICs that also use slower switching times to minimize EMI at the source. Choice of transistors, diodes, inductors and even basic circuits topology choice all play a big role. Toroidal inductors wound for minimal stray field are good, and shielded pot cores can also be a big help. Carefully tuning snubbers around diodes and switching elements also has a big payoff for peanuts. The last and most costly solution is to throw passive filtration and shielding at the problem you should have solved by design, but that can be effective too, though to shield a bad design to a high degree is very, very expensive. Thus the preaching of EMC specialists to solve the problem in design phase.
Switchers in the hands of a poor designer are a debacle, for EMI. In the hands of a skilled designer with lots of EMC experience, they can be pretty decent. Sadly, right now, no one is paying attention. Also, good designers are often hand tied by cost pressures.
Toroidal transformers for linear supplies are one simple solution with good efficiency and more compact size and weight. Alas, they are quite expensive due to the difficulty in winding them.
Alas, there's no competing with high frequency switchers for compactness, light weight, and low cost. Except when you consider your family's health. Our public health statistics are not looking good in many areas.