I'm researching TV's and picked up the latest TPV. They had a rptv shootout which was just what the doctor ordered. A 57" Sony won (don't remember the number) and was also awarded product of the year. It also happened to be the least expensive if I remember right ($2199). One of the reasons it won, even though the Hitachi had a sharper picture, is because they claimed it was right out of the box and required very little calibration. Even after ISF calibration the difference was nominal. The Hitachi OTOH required a major ISF calibration (estimated cost $600) to reach it's full potential. So here are my questions because this is latin to me:

1) Shouldn't ALL TV's be correctly calibrated straight out of the box, especially when you're dropping anywhere from $2-4 large?

2) I'm in the middle of nowhere (ask Woochifer, he knows) so where do you find ISF guys?

3) Could I reliably calibrate the thing myself with the proper Avia disc or equivalent?

4) Why no love for Sony here? Is there something that I should know? I know they had quality issues last year in their rptv's but c'mon. I'm a Hitachi/Toshiba fan myself, however if I can get a great TV from Sony and not worry about dumping another $600 into it just so it works the way it was suppossed to in the first place, I'm all over it!

What's your take? Thanks in advace.