Guys... it's threads like this that could actually increase profits!
Think about it, nothing on the market makes a picture like CRT...unless you get up into that $42,000 stratophere as Bill said.
CRT R&D/manufacturing may be dead...but for those who want a 30 or 40 grand image for 5 to 15 grand, how can CRT be dead? IT CAN'T
What we have here is possibly a great opportunity, but there needs to be a type of "pricing structure"...what is a XG, 8500, G70, 808, 1208, 9500, G90's picture quality worth?
There shouldn't be a highend 8" pj with new tube that sells for under 6 or 7 grand, but they do...and a 9" with new tubes? They are probably priced about right as they are now. So it's the 8" units that are really underpriced.
Our pj's will compete favorably with digital for another 5 years, maybe longer...this whole secondary pj/part/modification market has sprung up because of that fact.
Who cares if the manufacturers are no longer supporting them. We can, by buying up the extra parts and machines.
One thing that would be needed to a good board level repair/ mod station.
More and more people own CRT for use in their HT than ever, it's because of forums like this...hell, I would have never bought a CRT if it wasn't for this forum, as I'm sure more and more people will agree.
With all the people coming into the CRT section saying they just bought one, or just switched over, it seems as thought CRT is very alive and well in HT. Because of this the demand will continue, but it will be in this secondary/used market. You just have to be ready to "service what you sell", and this forum is well equipped to do that.