Consider this:

LCD over plazma. They cost a little more but use about half the power, generate far less heat, do not degrade and have a replaceable back lamp.

Don't buy anything but 1080dpi HD. The trend is progressively moving totally to HD.

I like the split systems with a separate tuner box. The flat panel connects to the tuner box with a cable or two and all your components can wire to the box not the panel.

JMO