...if the source is DVD, with an anamorphic 2.35 format, aren't the black bar regions part of the anamorphic image information, meaning 25% of the available image detail is p_ssed away, to begin with? Does the question become, do any scalers exist that select solely the useable mid screen information (360i?) from such widescreen DVD's and scale that detail up to full panel 480p or 720p, so that a pj displaying this modified image in the normal anamorphic stretch mode, and equipped with an aftermarket anamorphic lens, can display full panel resolution in proper 2.35 perspective?
This seems doable. I may be confused, but would you expect the PQ of an image scaled up from a 360i source as described above to be appreciably better than simply zooming out on a normal anamorphic stretched 2.35 image to full screen height (on a 2.35 screen)?