Talk me off the ledge

OK guys I have a Mits HD1000u and I love it. It is a bit dim but it has 2000 hours on it now and got it back in 2006 before the Bears Superbowl appearance. I got the dreaded colorwheel whine...can't stand it. Time to upgrade!

I have looked and considered the following:Optoma HD66, Vivitek 1080FD, Mits HC3800, Benq W1000, Epson 8100, and 8500UB

I will use this in a psuedo theatre room. I have dark chocolate walls but a white drop ceiling. The ceiling is only 7.5' but I get a decent 110" out of my HD1000 with a slight tilt up and no keystoning. I use my projector for HDTV and upscaled DVD's. I may buy a bluray player but not tops on my list of things I need to do. I especially like watching sports. I have a few floor lamps that put very little if any light on the screen (no ambient). I am using a matt white RGB neutral with a Behr matt poly.

I REALLY want to go with the 3800 BUT there are many times now I wish my projector was brighter. I would probably still go for the 3800 but the sync issues have me nervous.

Logically I could move to the 8100, there are no "deals" on these and they are a good projector with great ability for placement. Haven't heard many overly impressed with them and many wish they went for the 8500.

OK then I look at the HD66 and the 1080FD (I know apples and oranges) but fill the I get a replacement projector which should be brighter/better than what I currently have which I am not completely disappointed in and get in and out for 700-1000 bucks and in a couple of years when LED's are cheap and high output I will have no problems upgrading.

BUT I really want the 8500 since I use a lot of SD or DVD content this will enhance that viewing and by its own rights is a downright awesome projector but I could save the 1200 over the vivitek and buy something downright outstanding in a couple of years.

Would anyone dare to help confuse me more...I certainly hope so!

Wow...with all the opinions on this board, THAT is all I get? It is not really about having enough money to buy what I want it is about smart purchases. I could afford a more expensive one yet but it just isn't a good move for how I use it. For example I have heard no one speak of how much the 120Hz on say the 8500 really helps action shots and sports...could be a deciding factor. This makes me believe it is more marketing hype although I did see a video from P2 showing 60 and 120 side by side and it looked dramatic. Just looking for some good input.

The DLP's will work in my current config almost a direct swap...as if anything is a direct swap. I think I am getting close to the W1000 due to price/brightness/contrast for my uses. I agree spending a lot now seems foolish (TO ME) when perhaps in a year we can have pictures that look akin to the LED TV's only at 110" or more and are capable of 3D.

That is just my thinking and if I did splurge for the 8500 I am sure I would enjoy it as well.

Keep the input coming though!

You are probably correct. ;>)

I believe I am settling in the Benq W1000 camp. Stix2 on their thread is probably the main reason since there is very little reviewed about it.

I really want to have the Mits but what I have seen with the Mits HD1000 is that it was plenty bright new but in a year I am wanting more since the bulb is losing life. The Mits doesn't have the ability to really pump up the lumens for sports or higher ambient light a year from now...IMO. Other than that I would make shorter cable runs and make the mits work because I think the projector probably looks much better than anything in its immediate price range ~1250.

From what I can gather the W1000 has more options to adjust controls than the others in its price range. So given the flexibility of the Benq (although I have had a bad experience with Benq) and the lower price so 2 years I can get a really nice projector it seems like the one for me.

Does anyone see anything messed up with that line of thinking?