anyone take the Pioneer 5030HD plunge?
 

pretty tempting at $7300 or so now including shipping. Looks pretty stunning in person...anyone have one?

http://www.1800plasmas.com/tvimages/.../5030hdBig.gif

Just think that last years model was 20K with out the media center or the speakers -eek-

Plus this has better glass. Still waiting though.

I ALMOST got one. I was soooo close, and they even took it down to 7100 before tax...but I just couldnt do it. Not when I can pick up a decent WS Rear Projector for about $1500...so I'll grab one of those and wait 2 years, then a plasma is mine all mine.

Saw some 42 inch plasmas today at circuit city for around $4400. Getting really tempting.

For the budget route, check out Gateway's 42 incher for $2999.

Bad idea...it's made by Sampo, and apparently isn't that great of quality. There are numerous threads on this over at the avsforum.com. It's attractive because of the price, but the resolution and the build quality leave something to be desired, especially when there's a panasonic model within $500 of the Gateway, and is miles better in every major feature...

Is it true that plasma sets have lamps that need replacing every 1500 to 2000 hours of viewing and that these lamps can cost about $500?