Well, sounds like you have been talking to one of the many uninformed salespeople in this business. Truth is that rear projection tv's have no lamp whatsoever. The latest technology replacing rear projection is lcd projection or dlp. Both of these have a lamp that will eventually burn out just like your kitchen light bulb would. The average life of a lamp is between 4-6 thousand hours depending on the manufacturer. The average household watches tv 3 hrs a night on average thus 1,000 hours a year. When the lamp is replaced after 4-6 years on average, the television will assume it's original brightness. You can't say that about a rear projection, plasma, lcd flat panel, or even a picture tube. Microdisplay(DLP and LCD projection) is the way to go. Call me if your interested. I work for Sears in baltimore,MD 443-858-1794(cell) or email jgolfer33@comcast.net