I've read a lot of complaints about AppleTV only being able to broadcast 540p @ 30fps. The new HD camcorders are all 1080i. So what's the big deal. Isn't 540p and 1080i pretty much the same thing when viewed on a HDTV?

I am connecting my Apple TV at 1080i to my Pionner Elite 151 plasma, which is the same PQ as 1080p and has twice the resolution as 540p.

Isn't 540p and 1080i pretty much the same thing when viewed on a HDTV?

Nope. Now, 720p and 1080i... yeah, nearly the same.

I am connecting my Apple TV at 1080i to my Pionner Elite 151 plasma, which is the same PQ as 1080p and has twice the resolution as 540p.

Sorry... what are you saying exactly? Importing 1080i iMovie exports to AppleTV at 540p. I don't know if 1080i is an option for the AppleTV, but it is not as a iMovie export.

Nope. Now, 720p and 1080i... yeah, nearly the same.

I thought a 720p source looked better than 1080i and 540p was merely 1080i de-interlaced? No?

I thought a 720p source looked better than 1080i...
I don't see much difference. Think it depends a lot on your equipment (source and display) But if you are looking for supporting numbers then it becomes a game of defining metrics and preferences, at least it seems to me.

...and 540p was merely 1080i de-interlaced? No?
No... 1080i may only updates 540 lines per a scan but it still updates 1080 lines...