as you said, HTIB would suffice
for now. - italicized mine.
Think of it this way, pag may pera ka na, ano i-upgrade mo, LCDTV or the HTIB?
Think of it another way, what is the cost of the LCDTV without the HTIB? would you say that the bulk of your purchase is the LCDTV?
Think of it another way...
Just choose the LCDTV that suits you (this is subjective) and get the throwaway HTIB that comes with it.
Now if your question is which would be a better buy - Samsung R81 or Panasonic LX70. That's a valid question but is highly subjective and personal.
Personally, I prefer the Panasonic but ended up buying the Samsung. Why? I'm in the rental business, the Panasonic does not have PC input (VGA) - Although it can be done with the Pana, I need to satisfy a broader audience with less hassle to my technical staff.