Which hdtv would you recommend and why?

I now have 2 Samsung LED's which are outrageous. Check them out for certain before you make a final decision.

I first went with a Pioneer Plasma which was a great set, but I note that you're in Mobile - I'm in south Florida, and the amount of heat the thing generated (as many plasma's do)was so great that after a half hour the room (albeit small) was almost unlivable.

The Panasonics and Samsungs get great reviews. Go see what you like, but for sure the settings in the big box stores are hopeless.

Oh yeah - besides many of the good points here regarding ambient light, LCD / LED's are not so good off axis as the plasma's.

If you're going to be milling around while watching versus having a dedicated position to watch, the plasma's have an advantage there.