Hitachi 60V500 60 in. HDTV-Ready LCD TV

I purchased a Hitachi 50V500 LCD TV in 2004. I was impressed with the picture and was overall pleased with this set. I did have to replace the bulb approximately 18 months after purchase at a cost of over $300. This was not covered under the warranty since it was past the one year limit. I also purchased an extended warranty from the place of purchase, however it did not include the bulb. Now I have noticed a red glow in the center of the screen. I did some research on the about this and it appears this is a common problem. There are many complaints that Hitachi is not standing behind this product and acknowledging that a problem exist in many of its television sets. I have yet to contact Hitachi myself, but I am not encouraged by what I have read. You would expect, given the significantly expensive investment of this high end television set, that a reputable company would stand behind its name and product and assist those customers who have elected to purchase the Hitachi LCD television. It would serve you well to do your research before purchasing this product.