That was my worry. I tried BB (I know, I know!) and it was what I expected: A joke.
Actually I tried them twice: First time I waited for 45 minutes and no employee approached me.
2nd time they didn't seem real enthused to show me the Mitsu 6800 (hooked up via component and no HD sources) nor the JVC in the other room. They do offer a 30 day return policy however. I feel like getting the two or three projectors I want to look at and return the unit(s) I am not keeping. Sometimes you just have to do things yourself.
In all honesty, I think you are relatively safe in researching via forums to choose your PJ. There is less subjectivity, I think, in choosing a display than there is with buying speakers. And heck, plenty of people buy speakers without a single audition from an ID brand, for instance. I'm not saying that's you, obviously.
I think . . . it depends on the price tag you are willing to cough up for. If getting up to the 2k range, like I've apprehensively pushed you towards, I'd go with Epson. Then Panasonic. The main reason Id try Panasonic is for the zoom memory (which might prove to be super cool), but otherwise I want the historically better black levels of the Epson. However, again, as many would say, you can't go wrong with either considering the price point.
LCD is quieter. Important to you. Easier to place. Possibly a moot point.
Now at half that price, Id research Optoma HD20 and Viewsonic.
In between at 1.5k, I really don't know.
Anyways, the point is that you can really narrow down choices with PJs. If I said I had 1k for speakers, I'm sure you could give me a hundred possibilities.
I know, I know, I'm stating the obvious perhaps. Just trying to be a sounding board I guess.
edit: Feierman said this about the Optoma. I think you'll want LCD.
On the other hand, its small size is also probably why it makes more fan noise than most other home theater projectors.
edit #2: LCOS means only JVC as far as I am concerned, and that price point is too high outside of the used market.
