[quote name='klwillis45']
I'd stay away from plain ol' CRT RPTVs. They are the bottom of the barrel for picture quality. A nice DLP or LCoS set ~ 50" should be within your range if you do some looking. It won't be 1080p, but there aren't any 1080p sources right now anyway.[/QUOTE]
That pipe your smoking contains rock cocaine...its messing with your brain.
As your comment above clearly indicates, you can't surpass the picture quality of a CRT set.
CRT's still produce the richest and most vibrant images currently available in a display, bar none. LCD's cant touch them, DLP's can't touch them, SXRD/Lcos can't touch them.
The problem is that in order to get one that fully resolves 1080i, you need one with 9" guns..and those aren't cheap. They are also CRT's, which means they are huge...and weigh as much as a Volkswagon. (We're talking CRT RPTV's here not CRT Tube sets). They are also mildly succeptable to burn in, and will require convergence and geometry adjustments.
Your typical CRT produces a contrast ratio upwards of 10,000:1. The best DLP's and Plasmas claim 4000:1 and thats with funky IRIS controls and modulating apetures, which you can see if your eyes are sensitive (seeing the screen getting brighter and dimmer as the TV tries to compensate and maintain that 4000:1 CR, which by the way, almost none have been measured at.
I wouldn't recommend getting a CRT at this stage of the game either, unless money is tight.....but not because they have a picture quality that is "at the bottom of the barrel", thats just utterly false and complete disinformation.
HEY OP:
For $2000 have you considered going Front Projection? If you wont be watching the nightly news on this thing and stick to gaming, HD and DVD sources, for $2000 you can get a 720p LCD with decent contrast ratios and throw a 92-120 inch diagonal screen, you can also get a 720p DLP in that pricerange now with much better contrast ratios.
There are caveats to owning a front projector of course.....you can't really use them with ambient light in the room, and you can't turn them on and off like a TV.....bulb life and replacement cost is always an issue.....but then again....720p at 120 inches is a mighty nice image.