Sony KDL-52XBR9 52" HDTV LED TV

Beautiful amazing TV, but do not buy until you've read the following and checked out "Sony LCD panel failure).  If you MUST buy SONY, you had better buy the longest extended warranty available in order to protect yourself from apparently defective panels and their refusal to stand by their products. I have NEVER bought an extended warranty on ANY product, and I have NEVER needed one... UNTIL NOW!!!  I bought the top-of-the-line Sony Bravia KDL-52XBR9 on Nov 30, 2009.  It has been an amazing TV (beautiful picture almost looks like 3D - my wife and I are constantly saying how much we LOVE our tv) until a month ago (5 months out of manufacturers warranty) when all of a sudden when we turned it on there were flickering horizontal black lines, ghosting images, distorted colors and darkening of picture. Occurs intermittently. Please click on the following link to view 4 pictures and a short video of my Sony documenting this malfunction: http://www.flickr.com/photos/28154588@N04/sets/72157626610863429/  I contacted Sony and they setup a service call with their recommended company ($107.17 at my expense), and the repairman left me earlier today with a repair estimate of $2,577.98 to REPLACE THE LCD PANEL. Upon contacting Sony to see if they would cover the replacement cost even though the 1 year warranty had expired 6 months ago, they refused and offered me a "discount" on two CHEAPER models, a KDL55EX710 for $975 + tax or a KDL46BX421 $650 + tax. FINAL OFFER!!!  Before you buy Sony, just Google "sony lcd panel failure" and see for yourself the huge number of occurrences of LCD panel failure that Sony refused to take responsibility for.  (FYI - I have been a dedicated Sony consumer for over 30 years.  Very disappointed in Sony now.)