Hitachi 50V500 HDTV-Ready TV

I purchased the Hitachi 50V500 LCD three years ago last October, but only after three full years of consumer and "hands on/eyes on" research -- mainly due to its impressive consumer reviews. Indeed, for the first three years this set was the greatest thing since sliced bread. Simply fabulous! Ease of use, terrific sound system, and an awesome picture which looked as impressive as a plasma system. Indeed, of the dozens upon dozens of compliments I received most believed it to be a plasma. I could not have been more pleased with literally every aspect of this TV. But . . . enter "year three". After an average of ten hours of use daily, the now infamous and dreaded "blue haze" field took over the screen like a virus, including a pronounced and distracting pixel coupled with screen burn. (The main reason I purchased the V500 was to prevent screen burn.) Luckily I secured an extended warranty from Sears. Within three days the Sears tech arrived, looked at the screen, paused for a second, and didn't even have to look any further. He immediately informed me the light engine needed replaced. He further commented that I was indeed fortunate to have the extended warranty because, he said, ". . . the light engine in this Hitachi set doesn't last. I've replaced twelve just this year. And they're very expensive. But it's a great set and a beautiful picture, though," he said, " . . . while it last." I just about vapor locked upon hearing this news. Long story short -- within a week he replaced the light engine at no cost, either for parts or labor, which was very expensive -- around $1,000 bucks. However the so-called "new" replacement light engine was also inoperable with the same exact "blue haze" which apparently -- according to the other reviews -- is a quite common characteristic of the V500 after extended use. Ultimately a new engine was ordered and it arrived within two days. Tomorrow the Sears tech will install the "new" engine. (I cannot say enough about the wonderful service and treatment I have received from Sears over this problem.) Furthermore, when I questioned the Sears tech as to why a "new" replacement engine would be inop right out of the box, he replied that Hitachi no longer builds replacement light engines (don't know if this is true or not, but this is what he said) and almost all replacement units are all rebuilt models. I LOVED this system and I very disappointed to learn of this news. I have praised this system for three full years. But apparently . . . according to the other reviews, the Hitachi 50V500 system has an inherent and severe reliability problem. I only wish I had known. When I purchased my system, there were little known negatives in the consumer reports -- and actually I don't recall any. But times have changed . . . and so has my Hitachi. So. Mainly due to this problem -- and it's killing me to say this -- I cannot recommend this model for the serious TV viewer.