Ok, I've worked in Electronics Retail for almost two years. You will now benefit from my extensive knowledge~!
Don't go Plasma, and don't go Philips.
As you've been told, Plasma TVs can suffer from 'burn-in', where if an image or watermark is left on the TV for too long it can be permanantly burnt into the screen. Although Plasmas have gotten a lot better over the last few years this is still a possibility so I'd say disregard them altogether. They also heat up something fierce so if you've not got adequate ventilation, the room you're in will be less of a room and more of a sauna (adding, of course, to the heat being output by the next-gen PS3 and Xbox 360 consoles.)
The screens on Plasma TVs are also glossy so you will suffer from bad viewing if you're getting too much light in your room. Plasmas are also only availabe in large sizes (around 42" and up) so you're looking at a fairly hefty pricetag.
So we've established that Plasmas = a no-no, leaving you with two other options: LCD flat-panels and Rear-Projection.
Rear-Pro TVs can be a viable option if you're thinking about your budget. Sony Rear-Pro's for example, have 42"/50"/55" sizes for the entry models and 60"/70" for their high-def SXRD models. Benefits of Rear-Pros are that they're fairly lightweight with flexible plastic screens (so no little kiddies can smash your front panel easily) and they're quite cheap for the screen size. Downside, however, is that you have to replace the bulb inside every so often and those aren't cheap at all (approx. NZ$500 depending on brand) and if you get an LCD Rear-Pro the LCD panels inside need replacing every so often as well.
Speaking from experience, I personally chose a Sony 42" LCD for my gaming needs. The TV offered an HDMI port (although most LCDs these days offer more), two sets of Component inputs as well as the standard Composite and VGA connections. If you're looking to go LCD my suggestion is to not skimp on quality for money-saving. Buying a shitty LCD just so you have one and trying to save money is something you'll definitely regret later on - save up and get a decent brand and model. My recommendations would be either something Sony or Samsung, although it depends on what size you want. Panasonic make both Plasma and LCD TVs, although their LCDs are generally done in the smaller sizes (32"-37").
Summary Ending: LCD is probably best and depending on size stick to Sony, Samsung or Panasonic. Good brands = better picture, better audio and better well-being of the user ^^
