Thanks to all!
Well, the good news is that the panels are actually plastic, not glass, and the panels are much thinner than the old Rear Projection TV. (BTW Ozzy, I hav the same TV as you, just at 50" and in a different room)
I wish I could use a projector, indeed, for the TV model I'm considering, it will cost about +- 15%, not much. The problem is the bulb. with average 2000-4000 hours I just don't feel right to use a projector for casual TV viewing. But that's a requirement from my wife.
I'm also considering creating a sound absorbent stuff like a hanging carpet to cover the TV ... but my guts feeling is that I will end up getting too lazy.
I wish someone could make a TV mount that supports vertical movement so that I can "sink" the Panel behind the equiments.
happy viewing/listening,
K