Plasmas can last a very long time if taken care of properly. That simply means when you're not using, turn it off, don't let the same image stay on the screen for hours on end, etc. You're paying less to get a larger and more often than not, a better TV, but requires actual upkeep. TVs like mine, I paid like 3-4x the amount for a massive screen, extremely fast refresh rates, smart feature, etc. but mainly, I don't have to keep up with maintaining it. I leave it on with same image all the time, and while not in use, TV will turn off on it's own. That's the price difference in my opinion.