Wait until Black Friday and buy yourself a 42-inch 1080p for $500. The market is going to drop off 15% through this next year, trust me.
I knows people

.
BUT... if you can't wait until then, I'd opt for a Vizio. Cheapeast out of all available, and the best pure buy.
Bravias perform the best imo though. But getting one for under $2000 means it's a smaller tv.