You are partially right about replacing when they die. However, many people will use their old TV for a 2nd or 3rd set.
DTV sales were 91,000 units in June. The price dropped $200 in one month. Sales are up 400% from last year. Projected sales are for doubling every year. Sales of DVD players are up 25% over last year. Programming is getting broader every month.
Aug 22, C-3D demonstrated the worlds first HDTV disc for movie distribution. (DVD's are compressed junk in re HDTV).
www.c-3d.net or email me for complete packet on C-3D.
Time Warner AOL has agreed to put all their past and future content onto the new FMD discs. Profilo, the largest TV maker in Europe plans to have FMD drives made part of 1/2 their televisions in 2003.
I think that HDTV will be here very soon and quality is more a function of content delivery which will soon come up to speed. You are probably watching regular content now that is line doubled.