I think you will get many personal opinions as you've already seen. Its just a personal preference as to whether you go plasma/LCD- depends on price, quality of picture you want, etc.
The issues discussed above on the plasma are no longer true. We bought a plasma last year after thouroughly researching all of them. You can see it from the side and it IS very clear. Ours will last 1100 hours...at that rate..my DH can watch it for 11 years. Believe me, something else will break before that goes out.
The 720p, 1080p, etc. does refer to the pixels. The more, the more clear the pic. Most broadcasts are NOT in 1080 though~ only the movies that you get on DVDs are. If you don't subscribe to HD from you cable co/satellite co., then you will not even get 720p, it doesn't matter what your tv can do.
The mHz rating has to do with how fast the tv will "refresh" its picture. This has to do with the blurriness when watching action on the screen...like if you watch car races....how much blur you will see on the cars racing by. My old eyes can't tell much difference though...I'm just not that sophisticated a tv watcher :lol:
If you can't afford to gamble with the cost of replacing the tv if something should happen to it, then by all means, buy the protection plan. We never buy it...didn't on our new tv. Over the years, we've saved way more than enough to repair or replace a stroke of bad luck. But...thats just us. You have to do whats right for you.
alleyoop is right...do your homework, then go to the store, ask questions and then decide what is best for YOU>