Note that prices have gone down dramatically because plasma and LCD technology is now mainstream. Philips pretty much developed plasma and ate the R&D costs (or at least the schmucks that purchased the first generation $10K displays).

The lore regarding plasma burnout is pretty much that. 1st gen plasmas did have those issues, but considering the price point, the statistical ownership sample consisted of businesses that ran them 24/7...equivalent to a 12-year lifespan in an average household.

The 2nd and 3rd gen technology incorporated software that employs more efficient use of the lamps. They are touted as having a 60,00 hr lifespan versus the 30,000 from the 1st gen sets. Again, this works out to about an 18-year lifespan for an average household set...how many early electron gun tubes went THAT long?

LCDs are less pricey than PC monitors of like size, but LCD resolution is still not up to par for PC use. Still it is a good alternative if you have the need for a dual purpose monitor, and don't need the resolution demands of some PC software...

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2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car