I like the Samsung plasmas over their LCDs, unless you get the uber expensive UN55B8500 with local dimming.
Even their lowly 720p model looks better than the mainstream LCDs (even the LED backlit ones) imo.
I'm not a fan of their (2009) edgelit models too, but their 2010 models are supposed to be a bit better. But I'm not a big fan of their entry level plasmas either. They have a poor anti-reflective coating (much like Panasonic plasmas) that make blacks look milky in bright rooms. Samsung's plasmas are also more prone to image retention compared to Panasonic or Pioneer (temporary or even permanent). My brother has a B450 and I told him about all the precautions you should go through with a new plasma during the break-in period and he still has a weird image permanently burnt into the top left of his screen, and he doesn't even have the contrast that high, and it's only a few months old!
The Samsung LEDs (AFAIK) are edge lit LED. This means the big advantage is simply the life of the backlight. Also the Samsung's supposedly have a lot of processing which results in input lag.
It looks like the better 3D sets are going to be 2x regular sets for a while too
Samsung has edgelit and LED backlit. The B8500 (North American model number) is LED backlit with localized dimming. Samsung's 2010 LED backlit model is the C9000; the rest of the Cx000 are edgelit.
But you're right about Samsung HDTV's -- Samsung does a lot of processing to the video and have input lag upwards of 60ms. Their game mode's purpose is to reduce lag, and it does, but some of their displays have high lag even with game mode enabled. Brands like LG and Panasonic do relatively little processing to the video so input lag on their displays is usually lower.
--
Anyway, personally, I couldn't care less about 3D right now. I just bought a nice LG 55LH90 LED local dimming LCD for a good price that should last me a few years until I
might care about 3D. If 3D gaming/movies might interest you, then definitely look at one of the newer models. But if you can find one of the older 2009 LED backlit models for a good price, I would jump on it. Or an 09/10 plasma (preferably Panasonic or Pioneer) will be good too. Pioneer makes THE best HDTV's, but they're out of the HDTV business now and have sold the rights of the Kuro tech to Panasonic (which they might implement in their Plasmas in 2011/2012).
Something else to consider is how much input lag there is on the TV. Like I said above, LG and Panasonic LCD's generally have relatively low input lag. I personally tested my 55LH90 (using the stopwatch test) and got a respectably low number of 30ms, and that's with local dimming on. Panasonic plasmas also generally have low input lag.
