This is probably heresy, but based on the first 10 hours or so, I think my favorite mode is the normal living room mode even in my 100% light controlled theater. I tried the eco lamp setting a time or two but preferred the normal setting even in this mode. For reference, I have a 115" wide 2.35:1 ST130 screen.

Do most of you throttle this thing back?

I throttled mine back within 20 hours, as soon as I read enough here or in the manual to know I could (and probably should) throttle it back.

I haven't really looked back since doing so. I like it bright, but my Hi-power screen, 100% light controlled room with dark walls and carpet compensate for the eco mode.

I also want my bulb to last 2000 hours or more (I'd love to get 3000 hours).
Plus bulbs will dim. In 1000 hours if it's too dim, I can switch to normal and have the same level of enjoyment than I get today (in theory anyway).

I prefer normal myself for movies on ecom mode.Your eyes will adjust after a while no matter what setting.When you first switch it looks dim but wait and you forget about what it was before.BOB

Any of you guys with the 1.08 firmware, I'd be surprised if you actually see any difference in brightness between ecomode and normal (lamp modes), it may be from slight to none at all.

I've tested this with a friend on his AX100 that went in for the flickering problem and came back with the new firmware update 1.08. Before it left there was a noticeable difference between eco and normal lamp modes.

IMHO Panny's solution to the flickering was to up the voltage to the lamp in eco, pretty much bringing it to the level of normal. So even tho your menu says eco mode, the power to the lamp is about the same as normal.

I guess that means a somewhat shorter bulb life even tho you think you're running in ecomode, but at least the flickering is gone.

Mine definitely appears dimmer in eco mode. Did not notice any flicker in eco mode. I didn't check the build date, but did notice that it was shipped overseas at the end of Feb. The picture is so good and bright. I'd count myself lucky if I were to get 2000 hours before buying a new bulb.