There is very little difference between 720p and 1080p. When my biz partner was shopping for 50" plasma he had them swap a BluRay player between two Panasonics, same size, etc. just one was 720 and the other 1080. We thought that maybe, just maybe the difference was noticeable. Sometimes. He went with 720. I did the same when I bought my father-in-law a Samsung 50" plasma.
AFAIK, the US broadcasts, HD, etc. are all still in 720 and will be for years at least. The only thing that 1080p is worthwhile for is video games and BluRay. I suppose if you are a true tv/movie/gamer head then it may be worth your coin. Check around, this isn't my opinion alone, plenty of TV forums that have the same advice. I also feel plasma has better colors and deeper blacks. The lcd's are too bright. Father-in-law, biz partner both have the sets in bright rooms (daylight) and have no issues. The purported "problems" with plasma are nonsense. 50" plasmas are now in the $900 range. RT