If you can wait, I suggest you wait untill those new models that has installed internal tuner for HDTV, Since the 2 TV stations will have HDTV broadcast in 2007. Those LCD TV you can buy now can just recieve analog signals.
Philips is having a buy one get one free promotion on some of its LCD TVs now and all models carry a 5 yr warranty.
If you watch TV mainly, there is not much difference between the brands. Reliability is more of a concern, if you are looking at 2nd tier brands which are all more unreliable than relaible in the long run, you might as well go for an older model Panasonic or Sharp, which only costs under $8K for a 32".
If your target TV has HDMI input, then VCD/DVD quality depends more on the player. HDMI is a digital communication of audio and video signals from your player to TV, just one cable to connect, easy.
On digital HD broadcast, both TVB and ATV had not decided on the format, we lag behind China in that sense, and the new TVs will be more expensive then. Anyway, there will be set-top boxes available for conversion as an add-on later for existing TVs.
Hope this help.