Decisions & Questions

[acomire]

Hi all -

I am going to be joining the Blu-Ray army soon as soon as I decide on a player and was hoping that the experts here can lend a hand. I may be a blu-ray noob but I am an avid home theater enthusiast with lots of time to tinker.

Here is my setup which may help with you suggestions/questions:

Currently my tv is a 51'' Toshiba (ironic huh) capable of 1080i with a HDMI 1.1 interface. I am running my DirecTV HR20 reciever over HDMI through my Onkyo 604. I think the 604 may have to be replaced for the 605 since it is HDMI 1.3a. It kinda stinks as the 604 is only 7 months old. My existing DVD player is a Sony 400 disc changer which up-converts to 1080i over HDMI.

Anywhoo...

I am contemplating the Sammy BD-P1400 and the Panasonic BD30. The Sammy is very attractive at $330 vs the $499 Panasonic. I realize the Sammy is only BD profile 1.0 as the Panny is 1.1 I believe. The SD card slot is cool but I don't know how much I would use it as the Samsung's firmware is just as easy to upgrade over my network. (There is switched gigabit behind my AV rack servicing my DirecTV equipment, PS2 and Slingbox)

Here are my Q's:

I know there has been discussion on whether or not you can tell the difference with 1080i vs 1080p but truthfully, how good with the PQ be with what I have? When I watch the demo movies on Best Buy and they look awesome but how much of that awesomeness is due to movie being played on a 1080p set?

I would assume that the blu-ray movie would have much better picture quality over watching a HD movie on DirecTV - but again, is that a safe assumption?

I know I would not achieve deep color with my tv being on HDMI 1.1 but I was thinking of swapping my Onkyo to the 605 to get the TrueHD & DTS HD. Is that a smart move?

I appreciate everyone responses and welcome suggestions. I am in camp blu-ray, I just want to make the correct decisions.

Thanks!

AJC