Black levels on LG good enough for first time plasma-er???

I'm in my preliminary stages of shopping for a new TV and so far all I have narrowed down is that I do want a plasma (my living room is never intensely lit and I do most of my viewing at night in low light) and size (50"). I have an entry level budget and was looking at the 720p sets from Panasonic and Samsung, but I came across the LG 50PS11 for a good price. The only thing I ever hear about LG's is that they have "really bad" black levels, but that everything else is fairly solid outside of no AR coating vs similar priced competitors. My current TV is a 4 year old Magnavox LCD. I'm assuming that the "bad " black levels on the LG would seem like a huge jump forward for me. Are they only bad for a keen eye comparing to other plasmas or are they inexpensive LCD bad (can't imagine that they are). Really like the idea of going with a 1080p set for possible limited pc use but still staying in the $850 budget.
Please don't just tell me to go to the store and look at them as the only place I have found the LG is Costco (extremely bright) and they do not provide a remote to play around with to make sure both it and the panny next to it are ideally configured for my preference.

Thanks for the replies. That is exactly what I'm looking for, except for the reasoning behind it. I have never seen a high end PDP in person as here in Santa Barbara County in CA, if it cost a lot and isn't the most green option nobody will carry it in stock. So I have really been limited to the entry level panels. That works for me because I don't know what I'm missing. Is there another issue with LG vs the others that would be more obvious to the less trained eye? Keep in mind I am looking at ENTRY LEVEL screens (x1, etc). I would be using it in a living room with well controlled lighting for what I imagine will be the next 3-5 years.

The S1 is out of my budget unless the price drops to the low $800 range or maybe a bit more if Costco has it ($100 gift card ) I would like the NeoPDP but I don't see it dropping into my price range even with the 2010 models on the horizon. I am patient and can wait a while, but I am not familiar with price trends with plasma. Would I get more bang for my buck by holding out until the 2010 models? When do manufacturers generally roll out their new lines (Spring? Summer?)

Thanks for the input. Unfortunately the closest sears doesn't have the S1 in stock and there is no chance of making it elsewhere before the sale ends. For right now I am ruling it out as an option unless it drops before I find time to purchase something else. I really haven't heard of anyone who is upset with their purchase of an LG (outside of manuf. defects that are realistically just as likely to occur to any product, they all have that 5% that has something). I'm just really struggling with the idea that to my eye (at the store) the LG looked better than the panny in every way except for the x1 not having anywhere close to the amount of reflection of the BRIGHT costco overhead lighting. I don't think I would be disappointed in the black level of ANY plasma vs what I am used to. So.... besides black level and reflection, what makes it inferior to the panny? Is there something I am missing about LG's that I wouldn't discover until I get it home? I'm giving license to give me fact, opinion, speculation, hate... whatever about the budget 1080p sets from LG.

Thanks for all the help. I'm going to plan on getting the LG for now, but realized today that I desperately need to take a look at a new tv stand first to fit the larger set. Unfortunately that bridges the gap between home theatre and furniture, so I have to find one my wife likes for a price I like. SPEED BUMP. Does anyone know when the 2010 models would be rolling out?