Nothing for or against panel manufacturers.
Large flat panels (whatever be the tech) are difficult to get it right. Once they get it right, then all companies strive very hard to increase yield from the fabrication process.
This is why the Japanese biggies NEC, Pioneer, Panasonic, Sony, Sharp ruled for a good bit of time.
Due to rising costs and shrinking business and cut-throat competition from the likes of Samsung/LG many of the Japanese panel manufacturers went under.
There has been an alarming number of large screen TVs conking off within a few years of service lately; even from big name manufacturers.
The main reason, I suspect, is the obsession with size-0 TVs. Every manufacturer is trying to make it as thin as possible.
We buy these TVs, mount it on the wall, no air circulation, god knows what it does to heat and dissipation issues.
So next time you look at TVs, take a look at its back side. See how the plastic cover is perforated; will it suit your city weather, room placement, etc.
If possible, keep it stand mounted; this ensures 4-6 inches of space to mitigate heat dissipation issues.
As FM venkatcr found in his research of AVRs, Onkyo receivers had this problem of HDMI boards being fried occasionally due to heat dissipation from some network component.
Same logic can apply to panels as well; the panel itself may not be at fault, but is simply being unevenly cooked by some other circuit element.
Cheers,
Raghu
