MysT,
I'm inclined to agree wth you!
I'm waiting for Joe Fernand's comments on this very subject in the thread that I posted a couple of days back, so I'm not saying I can't be swayed, but for now I would have to say that:
1. IMHO, I believe that High Definition will happen on DVD sooner rather than later, especially now that D-Theatre is a market reality, and certainly well within the life expectancy of any Plasma Screen being purchased now, so the High Definition option warrents careful consideration! ( Especially if your not rolling in it!)
2. IMHO, anyone who thinks Hollywood won't see HD-DVD as another excellent opportunity to "re-cycle" all of their back catalogue titles again is deluding themselves! ( Some of the studios are already doing this for D-Theatre after all, and they must know that being tape based, it is NEVER going to become a mainstream format!....but their still doing it anyway!) By the way, according to the reviews that I've read, it's supposed to look fantastic on current High Definition Plasma displays!!!
3. IMHO, HD-DVD will be "marketed" as DVD's "Big Brother" and like "Superbit", will be Film only, no extras / commentaries, & aimed at the "enthusiast" market. It will probably co-exist "Day & Date" with DVD, (which will still be the format of choice for the masses.) We could even see DTS migrate to being a HD-DVD only sound option in order to attract the DTS advocates? DVD will be marketed on the strength of it's "added value" additional material (extras) and HD-DVD will be sold on it's "Quality".
This would of course represent an ideal situation for the Studios as any true fan of a movie with suitable equipment will want to purchase both versions of any release. I can certainly forsee myself doing exactly that, HD-DVD for optimum quality and DVD for the Documentaries & Commentary tracks etc.
For owners of HD Plasma displays it will be a "WIN / WIN" situation, but this won't be the case for all those with a VGA resolution screen. I may of course be totaly wrong, but I'd lay odds that I'm not!...We shall see.
Why limit yourself to simply having your cake? ( owning a DVD optimised panel ) when you can eat it as well? ( owning a future proofed HD-DVD compatible panel )
For now, as long as Standard DVD images are not significantly "degraded" by using a HD Panel then this has to be the most common sense solution...Doesn't it?...Over to you!
By the way, GREAT THREAD GUY'S!, this is what it's all about!
Best Regards,
KBDVD.