If weight and space are not a problem, the best bang for buck is still a great big Hi-Def Ready CRT, with a flat, 4:3 aspect ratio screen. When you watch DVD movies, use widescreen with the English subtitles turned on. These will usually occupy the black bar at the bottom rather than cover part of the image, as would happen in a 16:9 set. But once you've installed this monster, get used to its position, because ease of mobility is definitely not a feature.
I agree that flat screen HDTV CRT is the way to go. CRT gives the best possible picture, better than plasma or lcd (but our 30" CRT weighs 200 pounds!). However 16:9 CRT is a better choice than 4:3 CRT. Most modern DVD movies and all HDTV shows are set for 16:9. Old-fashioned legacy 4:3 TV is on its way out and will be obsolete eventually. 16:9 sets can stretch 4:3 content to fill the screen in the meantime.