These break-in procedures are quickly becoming outdated as newer generations panels are being used that are much less seceptive to image burn-in, now often refered to as image retention.
When I purchased my Panasonic Plasma a year ago, it did not come with any break-in instructions, even though I stumbled (by accident) on a Panasonic webpage that listed the break-in procedures for Plasma TVs. I did follow the instructions to the letter and I do still have occasional temporary image retention. At first I freaked out, but after doing further research I learned most plasmas have occasional temporary image retention.
What does this mean? Well, it means that if I leave my TV on CNN all friggin day long and suddenly pop in a DVD or BD with blackbars, I can see a ghost image of the CNN logo in the lower right corner. However, this does dissapear again, especially after watching a full-screen image for a short amount of time.
Panasonic's website states this may happen but also mentioned that PERMANENTLY image retention is really nothing to worry about anymore nowadays.
This ofcourse was a year ago, which brings me back to the beginning of my email. Considering Plasmas do not come with printed instructions on any necessary break-in procedures and the fact the newer panels are even better than the older ones (aren't we up to generation 10 or so right now), you really shouldn't worry too much!. Things will be fine and by Plasma manufacturers's own admissions, PERMANENT burn-in truely doesn't happen anymore. Except perhaps if you leave a static image on your screen for weeks at a time, but this will be the case with LCD as well. (once again, if you do see image retention -- it will only be temporary).
So, No worries. Just enjoy that beautiful Plasma!
Newer cars don't need to be broken in anymore and newer Plasma's truely won't need that anymore either. If they did, you would have instructions with bold and bright warning labels all thru your TV's manual.
And for those that insist on breaking it in anyway ... by all means go ahead. It definitely won't do any harm.
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