I'd like to put that in my living room. It'd just fit the wall, floor to ceiling.

Hm. Judging from your picture, I can see that they have a black screen with white spots. Nevermind; that is arguably not a fair measurement.

I must respectfully disagree. Many televisions have a tendency of increasing their brightness or gamma according to the total display brightness ratio. In other words, if you're looking at a skiing competition, the brightness or gamma is toned down. And in a scary, dark movie, the brightness or gamma is brought up.

The contrast ratio, measured correctly, will not allow this brightness factor to kick in. A fair measurement would indeed involve a screen that is 50% gray, with a black spot and a white spot, with two measurements, each with the white and black on switched sides. What is the difference between the two spots, is what I want to know. That in turn will measure the actual contrast ratio. Contrast ratio measured in this way ultimately MEANS IMAGE DETAIL.

Simply making the screen go black and measuring that, then making the screen go white and measuring that, will not be a fair contrast ratio measurement.

Now it sounds like you came across a manufacturer who was making a shift towards honesty. This should be cause for celebration, not contempt.

Not to mention, Windows XP Media Center doesn't support CableCARD.

Eww, XP!! The purpose of this thing is for your living room. The whole point of using Vista is enjoying its dramatically improved and revamped Windows Media Center. The one in Vista is absolutely gorgeous, and runs natively on Xbox 360 when extended to it.