Like others here, I would highly recommend that you do not get a plasma, for many of the reasons listed previously. Do you really want to pay for a TV that might just last 10 years? I don't know about you, but if I pay $10k+ for a TV, I would want to it last FOREVER.

Also, next time you go to look at them, run your fingers along the top where the heat vents are. You will notice right away how hot they run, hotter than any other display out there. Imagine the burn-in possibilities...

Lastly, a 50 inch plasma may sound nice on paper but once you hang that sucker on the wall and sit 8-12 feet away from it, you'll be surprised how small it looks, especially considering all the money you spent on it.