This is the model I got, and you can see my earlier posts when I got it last year.
It is an excellent unit. This is one of the first units that came out with a supposedly 10,000 hr life. It was more popular in Europe (multi-awarded) than its US counterpart the 42EDT-something.
AFAIK, it has a real Hitachi panel. Hitachi is one of the pioneers and co-developers of the plasma panels, and it supplies panels to other OEMs.
Contrast of this unit is 3000:1 and curent units are in 10,000:1. But hey, you can have more than enough contrast with 3000:1!. I use only the low setting.
If the unit is really brand new, risk of failing is minimal. This model is robust, at least I did not have any problems, even minor ones.
The price? Well, compare it with the current EDTV-res models or back models of HDTV-res and suit your budget.
Get a guarantee from Listening room!
I have brochures at the office.
(Correction: 60,000 hours on the life rating.......02/04/06tg)