I too have researched this extensively, and there is one other possible element to the equation. Do you play videogames? If you do, then there is no comparison between LCD and Plasma. I don’t care how much anti-burn in technology they put in a set, a health bar or ammo counter can still burn into a pasma of CRT tube set. Also, if you play online, certain games have flashbangs and flares that players sometimes use against people in the hopes that they have a plasma TV to trigger the automatic dimming feature to prevent burn-in (you would not believe how seriously some people take video games). It is absolutely impossible to burn-in an LCD. Think about digital clocks. Do you see the number 1 burned into the screen after several hours being lit? No, because the way the technology works this is impossible.
About a year ago you could make the argument that Plasma gave a better picture than LCD, but this is definitely no longer the case. There have been great strides in LCD contrast recently, and the newer LCD’s are much brighter than plasma, a consideration if you’re going to view the set in a room with ambient light.
I currently use a 32 in LCD as my gaming rig, I’m going to replace my big rear-rojection set with either a 52 inch Sharp Aquos or the Sony XBRII. Havn’t quite decided yet. One final point, the life expectancy of an LCD set is 60,000 hours, long enough to last 20 years of daily use, when the bulb could be replaced and you could run it another 20years. The Sharps have replaceable bulbs. As others have said, the LCD’s are also much cheaper to run as well, which offsets the LCD’s somewhat higher cost at initial purchase. I think the days of Plasma may be numbered.
