If you get high quality LCD sets, these days they are getting very good contrast ratios. Not close to Plasma, but black levels are much improved. Plus, with 120Hz LCD's like mine, there is no motion blur. My 42" set with great black levels, incredible brightness as well, and 120Hz response time was just $1200 when I bought it, and is much cheaper now. Once it was calibrated it absolutely blows away most LG, Samsung, and Sony comparable models.
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2333566,00.asp
For an LCD, I got great bang for the buck, and very comparable dark quality to Plasma, although the Plasma is definitely better. And with all that extra money, oh what to do! 
Still, I know AUS prices are higher, and it sounds like you are more of a videophile than me, with a higher budget than me, so you made a great choice. I'm still gonna try and hold out for OLED TV's before making another purchase, though. The day OLED becomes large and affordable, is the day Plasma and LCD die 
