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Yes, it's not just color depth but brightness or "luminance" depth. (The human eye is actually more sensitive to changes in luminance levels than to changes in color, that's why black levels and contrast ratios are so important.)

Pioneer Elite Kuro...best HDTV currently available

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Did you read the OP? The Kuro is like 8 grand...

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I don't see why someone would want anything but a projector at that price point.

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Well in digital terms, that's why we have file formats that can go to 32bpc: it's to store the luminosity information and give you "realistic" light simulations. Color hue and tonal luminance are integrally related in RGB space. 8bpc space is adequate for storing hue information, but you can get noticable banding if you have a large dynamic range. By itself, I've read that the eye can see about 10bpc. However, we can perceptually see over 20bpc (because of the way our eyes can scan a scene). The main importance I see with HDR mediums is better photography. A lot of outdoor shots I see in movies have really pushed to have an adequate but limited range. I've got a nice Canon dSLR, but I do notice how its dynamic range isn't quite as good as film. At some point, I think older movies will look really great on HDR sets: as you'll be able to get colordepths that are larger then even the original projectors were able to show.

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I didn't read the OP. (just the title...sorry) Pioneer Elite Kuro (60") can be had for $6400 by the way...($5200 - 50")

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That happens every year.

The saying is, if you always wait for the next best, you will always be waiting.

I have a 36" SONY WEGA crt, 37" VIZIO LCD, a 65" Mits CRT RPTV and an 8' screen with a FP, so I have some experience with the different techs.
I would say that at your seating distance you could go as big as 65" without having any SDE or visible scan lines. The question you have to ask besides budget is how the TV will be used most. If the set is going to be left on for extended periods or turned on and off frequently then I would suggest either a CRT RPTV or a plasma or FLAT LCD. The other RP sets like DLP, LCOS ect. have lamps in them that will need replacing. And leaving the set on for hours every day or re-striking/turning on frequently can kill a bulb rather quickly.

Dont get all excited about maing sure the display is 1080p, yes its the highest 'somewhat' available resolution but you are not going to get a set that is big enough to see a difference on in the real world. 1080i and 720p will do just fine.
IMO I would look into either a 50" plasma or a 50" LCD panal. And good 50" versions of each can be had for well under 2k.

Good luck!!

I'd consider Mitsubishi's line of 1080p DLP HDTVs. My family has an older 52" model at home, only 1080i capable, but it's pretty good for the price (with matching base came out to about $1800, just couldn't get them to buy the more expensive 1080p models a few years ago ). Doesn't have the deepest blacks and will jitter with fast motion footage, but movies in both DVD and HD-DVD look great. Mitsubishi's idea of using magenta along with the other five primary colors for color quality works quite well, and is probably the best feature. They're not as bulky as RPTVs used to be. If you're tall and strong enough, you can lift it by yourself (yes I've tried). You do have to replace the bulb after a while, which is the biggest downer.

Well it seems OLED indeed will take some time to achieve fruition:

Picture fuzzy for organic thin TVs | CNET News.com

My LCoS set is amazing. I've never seen anything like it. I just got it, though. Could just be shock.

And it's almost as big as an xbox.

An interesting development. "Absolute black" levels from a plasma, announced at CES: Pioneer's Project Kuro prototype:

Best of CES: Optimus Keyboard, 'Absolute Black' Plasma and **** TiVo

Pioneer gets to absolute black with plasma prototype

Vizio is the way to go for an affordable LCD TV with excellent price/performance ratio. I have a small 20 inch, am very happy with it. For 10-15 feet I would recommend atleast a 32 inch tv. Its not all that expensive and has tons of inputs and options. Picture holds its own against much more expensive models. Surely its not gonna beat something twice the price, but until you get there, this will keep you more than happy.

Let's be practical, folks. Price is an issue. A local store is also probably important. Also important is the size and furnishings in the room. For example, my 80ish parents were using a good 27" Sony CRT at 13 feet. It was the most I could talk them into for a long time. Finally broke them down and they ended up with a Sony XBR1 40" LCD. It was the biggest I could talk them into this time AND it was the biggest that fit the only spot they would consider for the TV. Almost bought a Sharp, but the volume would not get loud enough. Found a nice single-shelf doored bookcase at Pier 1 to put it on and they are very pleased. So, take into account their situation and the room.

I've been recommending Vizio for good priced sets. Westinghouse (note some do not have tuners, I think) and Olevia seem to be in the same price range. I recommend LCD so they don't ever have to think about burn-in (yes I know it's not a problem as long as you do this and don't do that, but my parents have fox news on 10 hours per day in a bright room and don't even want to hear about a concept like burn-in).

But your parents are probably my age or less. Just evaluate them and the environment before choosing. We'd all like high-end Sonys or Samsungs, but most of us would be quite happy with a Vizio, especially compared to what we used to have. I bought myself a 56" JVC RPTV from Best Buy and am very happy with it. See if you can get free credit until 2009 or something like that if you will be a working grad by then. That should help you sell the idea to your dad.

Mooch

You should look into a vizio. they actualy have surprisingly good quality at a very reasonable price. but watch out, anything bigger than 32" from vizio is not nearly as good as 32" ad under. I would say a 32" vizio would be a great solution. If you find you can spend a little more you should look into an LG 37" or 42". but for sitting that close 32" should be a great size