I would get a Pioneer Elite - period.
Runco doesn't make a single product. And if they do make it, it is not worth owning. They simply rebadge other companies products with their labels and try to add some special features which usually fail horrendously every other week.
Stick with original equipment manufacturers for your best results and skip the Runcos of the world.
Not that I'm bitter or anything.
Really, I have yet to see a plasma from any manufacturer, at 50" or larger, best the Pioneer Elites. I am open to one doing so, but just haven't seen it yet.