Pansonic TC-P58S2 versus TC-P58VT25 versus Smasung PN58C8000

So after 8 years, I'm finally ready to retire my Panasonic 47" PT-47WX53 HDTV.  The picture has gotten dim and it doesn't do 720p (which wasn't a big deal when I got it, but is an annoyance now due to the PS3 not supporting 720p up-conversion for all games).  The only thing really stopping me from pulling the trigger is not being able to decide whether I should invest in a 3D set or not.  I love 3D in concept, but I don't usually like being an "early adopter" and I'm not sure if 3D is out of that stage yet or not.

I've pretty much settled on a 58" plasma, and I've narrowed it down to three models at three different price points.

http://www.onecall.com/product/Panasonic/TC-P58S2/Plasma-TV/_/R-104547

http://www.onecall.com/product/Samsung/PN58C8000/Plasma-TV/_/R-103191

http://www.onecall.com/product/Panasonic/TC-P58VT25/Plasma-TV/_/R-103357

So I guess what I'm trying to do is find the "sweet" spot of picture quality versus price, and determine whether 3D should be a factor in that.  I don't care about any other features that don't have anything to do with picture quality.  I pretty much split my time evenly between video games, movies and TV.

Is anything about 3D sets going to fundamentally change to make current home 3D useless?  Or is the technology set in stone with incremental improvements coming down the line?

Between these three sets, which one would you get and why?  What about between just the 2 3D sets (first link is not 3D)?

Usually I wouldn't reply to my own post, but since no one else chimed in, I just wanted to add that I've decided on going with the Samsung.  I found some excellent reviews of it online and I think it's the best balance between cost and features.  I might pull the trigger as early as today.

Thanks Gregg, I've been thrilled with it so far, though I don't have nearly as much time as I would like to use it.  I was planning to contact you through your company website at some point to see if you had a Philadelphia tour coming up anytime soon (I'm just outside the city in Plymouth Meeting), but since you're here, I might as well bring it up.