DMeisterJ - Keep it civil with Onimusha12.
At any rate, though, HDTV prices aren't as horrible as you think.
You can still go out and buy a 19" HDTV pretty cheap:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8632848&type=product&id=1194052042293
720p Flatpanel HDTV in 19" for under $300. The issue with the HDTV movement is that companies are pushing bigger and bigger TVs, as the American demand for excess continues to grow - all of the TVs I've normally owned are in between 19-23", yet most HDTVs you will see at the stores (at least where I live) are 28" or higher. This is why we think HDTV's cost more, but they don't as bad as you think. Also, with the FCC cutting analog TV signals in the near future, add the price of a DTV box to your normal TV (which most HDTVs come with integrated), and you can see why the price is as "high" as it is.
Big-Screen TVs cost has been much reduced thanks to HDTVs. It used to be a big 'ol 50" TV would cost you $3,000+ and be rather nasty to get the large size. But you can get a nice 50" for under $3k anywhere, and even go as low as $1,499 for such a large TV!
Back from the dead, I'm afraid.
