LCD TV - Are they reliable ?

I have to defend DLP. I have Samsung 42" DLP since 2001/2002 and had to replace bulb ($200) only once (rated 8k hours) running TV practically 6-7 hrs everyday. Bulbs are cheaper now. It has matte screen (while plasma is very shiny) that does not burn-in (plasma does). It does not loose contrast/brightness over time (plasma does) and practically runs forever (color wheel is replaceable). Plasma is rated about 50k hours - it means brightness will drop to 50%. This rating assumes constant operation - it gets worse when turned on and off every day. Plasma damage with age shows as bursting plasma cells - black spots/stains. My TV consumes a little more than the bulb itself (150W) while plasma gets closer to 300W. I don't want to be too critical but just to show that no technology is perfect.

Undertow - where did you see 25,000 or 30,000 hours rated bulbs? Ultra High Vacum 150W bulb in my 42" DLP Samsung is rated 8000 hrs. and bulb in 50" Samsungs is rated 6000 hrs. Maybe yo're talking about LCD backlit panel and not the bulb.

Plasma is rated closer to 50,000 hrs - so I heard.

Undertow - I found it on internet:

"In fact, many plasma manufacturers boast a life span of 60,000 hours to half life! This is a longer life than a tube based television. The specification is somewhat suspect since the process of determining longevity of the product is based on deductive mathematical calculation of phosphor dissipation, and does not take into account the electronic components and the myriad of problems that can occur. Panasonic was the first to claim the 60,000 hour life span, up from a previous 30,000 just a year prior.

Within months after Panasonic announced this new life span, other manufacturers jumped on the bandwagon announcing that their plasma television is now rated to 60,000."

This remainds me a joke about old chinese man who got sack of gold to teach King's dog to speak in 10 years or his head will be cut off. Old man said to terrified family and friends "Who knows what going to happen in ten years, maybe I will die, maybe king will die and most likely dog will die"

Same is true here - they can promise anything but how people can verify it? Are we going to remember what was promised 20 years ago (30k hours / 4 hours a day)?

Undertow - I'm happy so far with my 42" DLP TV (since 2001)but I consider larger size in future. My daughter's TV (plasma-Panasonic 42") has very shiny surface and worse HDTV picture than my DLP. It has something to do with noise reduction software that makes false contouring and a little "plasticky" faces. Perhaps not set optimally. In the store I liked Panasonic and Pioneer plasmas. LCD is promising but I have to look at these black levels again.