Why not LT150 as it's only $2.3K which is in your budget. To save money make your own screen out of white blackout material from your local fabric shop $15 for cloth, $20 for wooden frame (even less if you just roll it up and down).
Anyways, LT150 or LT85 should do fine with 480i via Svideo although it's best at 480p or HTPC. Small images like signs or license plates tend to be less crisp on 480i. Edges are not as smooth and stair stepping may be noted on 480i. HTPC or 480p should give much, much more satisfactory imaging. If you were to spend $2.3K on a PJ, why not spend $200 for Panasonic RP-56 progressive DVD player and $10-30 for breakout cable. Take your 480i player into your bedroom or give/sell it to your mom
If you already have a 400Mhz or higher PC, converting to HTPC is not that difficult especially if your PC already have DVD drive, a nice video card like Nvidia or ATI based products, and a sound card with digital SPDIF output. This is the best choice any digital PJ. Using HTPC is not that difficult especially if you leave your PC on all the time: merely turning on PJ, hitting autoadjust, pop in DVD disc, turn on stereo, and you're ready to go
I personally have both 480i STB DVD player into Svideo and HTPC into VGA. I use HTPC and the wife can use STB DVD player--she hates PC.
