No HD is broadcast in 1080p, and wont be for a NUMBER of years due to bandwidth issues.
Only go 1080p if you're going to go HD DVD/Blu-Ray or are a gamer. Other than that it's not worth the premium right now IMO.
john - i tend to agree with you. for me, it is about getting the source material without any intermediate monkeying around (upconversion, pulldown, etc. - all of which degrade image quality). this is true for gaming and movie viewing. broadcast will come, but it will be a while. your statement "Only go 1080p if you're going to go HD DVD/Blu-Ray or are a gamer" is funny only inasmuchas it covers virtually everybody - who doesnt want to watch movies, esp. given the fabulous upscaling these players offer, extending the life of your existing dvd collection..?
re: clouding and flashlighting
i will dig up some pics and links, and will post an answer for you tonight...