We did the same thing a few years ago. We had an old Sony Trinatron that weighed 200lbs but it wasn't Digital ready. When we got down to our last converter box I started looking. I saw the prices on a nice Samsung 55" at Black Friday. I held off cause I hadn't done my research. I started to kick myself as the prices went higher.
I went and read the CNET reviews and started looking at different sets and thought I had settled on a Samsung based on features, etc. I finally went to a Best Buy to look at it a Panasonic caught my eye. It was brighter, clear and had less bezel than the Samsungs. I knew the Panasonics had gotten good reviews. I ended up with it in early January. Got them to through in 3 years of total protection on the deal too for nothing. Lesson learned, do your research and go look at them. See what you like. Have them put on movies or sports or whatever you like to watch.
I know you don't want to wait, but wait. The stuff that typically goes on sale for Black Friday is not the good stuff. You will get a lot more for your buck in January. You don't need to wait til just before the Superbowl, just a week or two in to January.
Check out Best Buy's Deal of the Day site. After I bought mine, I saw some really nice sets go up there for super cheap.
Also, since you aren't wanting a Smart TV, you should be able to pull off a no-frills 60-70" for under $1k easy.
Another option too is Plasma. Only makes sense in dark rooms though. I would have gone with the Panasonic plasma (they stopped making them 2 years ago but they were the best TV's on the market) but our TV room is super bright with a southern exposure.
Last comment, I don't believe my TV will last 5 years. I hope it lasts that long and then some but with most of today's technology, I just know that it will break sooner than I would have liked. Our old Sony is at my parents house hooked to their cable box in the basement. I bet that TV outlasts this one and the one after that.
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I know. Especially considering we had theater seating and surround sound! Maybe it was just too far from the 
?