The onscreen display on your new set is telling you what kind of signal it's getting, not what it's displaying. Nothing is wrong. Try reading the manual.
The OP's set is 60hz, no frame interpolation to turn off.As a general rule, DVDs up converted by a BD player look better than when played on a standard DVD player.
iirc, diazepam=Valium...doesn't fix vertigo, just gets you high so you can tolerate it.If your vertigo is accompanied by hearing loss and/or ringing or a whooshing sound you may have Meneire's disease. Definitely see an ent specialist ASAP.
Samsung has the most effective marketing in the industry. It's also the most deceptive and unethical. I won't reward their patent infringement and lying marketing hype by purchasing any of their products.
Refurbished=somebody returned one set and they want to sell it. This isn't a big deal, one can get open box prices on individual returned sets just about anywhere.
Agree on plasma. Check your local Sears store--they may have the Panasonic TC-P42S60 for about $499 new in the box. 1080p vs 720P for the Samsung 4500 you list, plus "smart" features for Netflix etc.
I don't think you're overreacting. Perhaps you should research the guidelines/standards. Then get in touch with other parents who might be concerned--strength in numbers.
What Gregg said.
color debuted in 1953. It didn't work very well at all and there was very little color broadcasting until the early 60s.
HD debuted in 1998, in a few markets only, and initially only one HD channel on satellite (HBO HD on DirecTV). The government had mandated a transition...
3D never took off as a sole reason to upgrade, so it couldn't be "eclipsed" by "smart tv". I have a 3D "smart" tv and use the 3D but not the "smart" as I prefer to use a different source device (PS3, 3D BD player, or my Apple TV) for "smart" stuff.
Average bitrate on high speed internet connections is much higher in Europe than in the US, and it's a lot cheaper. That may have an effect on lower usage in the US.