There is a 3rd choice, which is DLP, or in Sony's case, SXRD. I like Sony's LCDs better than any plasma I've seen under $10K (Sony doesn't make plasma and I'm not sure they ever did), including Pioneer Elite, etc., etc. I find the SXRD a much better value than the LCD with a GREAT picture. The new Sony SXRDs are definitely worth considering, IMHO, before pulling the trigger on a new TV. They seem to incorporate the positives of both other formats, without the negatives of either.
Why are LCDs more popular than plasma?
I have a rough time seeing differences in picture quality between brands and models, but the difference between plasma and LCD are overt even to me. When I go to bestbuy, fry's, etc. and gaze at their displays of flatpannels, plasma televisions just look beautiful, despite the reflections, while LCDs just remind me of working on my laptop. Is there more merit to the quality of LCD than I observe or is there some other reason LCDs outnumber plasmas?