$8000 TV???
I'm in the wrong profession.....that's a ton of cash for a boob tube...Hope it has a life time warranty!
Give it a year and that technology will be 1/2 price.
Google Pioneer Elite Plasma's. They have WITHOUT QUESTION the best pictures for a "flat panel" and you kill slit your wrists over the price.
Back on topic:
NHawk,
$8,000? Home Theater is a hobby of mine. If the name "Sony" is associated with it, don't buy it. Look into Panasonic, Pioneer (best after Pioneer Elite), Mitsubishi or Samsung. The rest is not worth it. Regarding the formats, if your room is "Dark" then most will work, even a "Front Projector". If the room is of a "medium" type hue of daylight, go for the LCD's or DLP's. If it is bright, BE VERY CAREFUL on Plasma's and get one with a non-glare screen. You'll regret a Plasma without this in a "bright room" and anyone who will disagree with it, is blinded by their own bias.
Also keep in mind, if you "have a large TV", a very good Home Theater system is desired. By this I mean, no Bose. Look into Definitive Technology, B&W, Paradigm and SVS subwoofers are the best on Earth.
Good luck and DO NOT fall for some salepersons claims of "Having to get a HDTV by February 2009". Don't buy into it, it is a bold faced LIE. If you have "Digital Cable", Dish Network or DirecTV (I have DirecTV) you need NOTHING. For everything else, you're gonna need the "converter" that they'll rape the public with every couple of years "with upgrades" that are pointless.
It's your money, spend it wisely. I'm just trying to pass my knowledge on to you. If you need ANYTHING, feel free to PM me.