Pioneer all the way!!! I spend lots of time reading up on TVs and other gadgets, but beer is preventing me from typing more to justify my choice.
As far as screen burn goes, I wouldn't worry about it. Unless you leave something on pause for hours it's never going to be an issue. Yes, some channels have their logo static in the corner, but unless you have the tv turned on to that channel for, again, hours at once, you're not going to notice anything. And even if you did, once you change it'll be gone reasonably quickly.
I know a lot of people with Plasmas (I don't have one, I have my projector

) and none of them have ever had an issue with screen burn.
LCD is great for general viewing, and there are more features out there to improve the picture quality than for Plasma, but then Plasma doesn't need as many. If you watch a lot of films or like the picture to be as sharp as possible with the best depth and clarity, then it'd have to be Plasma. LCD simply cannot match the blacks and richness of Plasma...
Oh dear, I seem to have begun a rant. I'll stop because while I thought the beer was going to prevent me from typing much, it seems that it's going the other way and I was about to start on some technical balony that I find really interesting, but I fear the starter of this thread may not.
Anyway, final words: If you want 50" or a bit bigger then my choice would be a Pioneer Plasma everytime. But you did say price isn't an issue, so what about a Panasonic TH-103PZ600U? Or even better, look out for the Panasonic Lifewall!
