Sold my avant a while ago for 300 Euro (VCR / RF). Kept it in the home office, but it was just too big for the small room, otherwise I would have kept it (as a design object...).
Sound was great for a tv, for sure.
But even a bigger picture can be (nearly) as good as the avant one - I own a Pioneer Kuro 50" that does reallay good scaling of pal / ntsc formats. Can be isf calibrated as well.
Visitors are alway impressed by the picture since most of them got the supermarket tvs.
And don't forget: now that hd (bluray, sky etc.) is here, it makes sense to have an hd tv, too.
Ralf
PS: Soundwise a dolby digital amp + 5.1 speakers is a must ;-)
Living Room: Beosystem 4, Beolab 7-2 (Center), Beolab 9 (Fronts), Beolab 8000 (Rears), Screen: Sony KD-85XH9096
Home Cinema: Beosystem 4, Beolab 7-4 (Center), Beolab 9 (Fronts), Beolab 4000 (Rears). Projector: Sony VPL-HW55
Home Office: BeoVision 11-46, 4 x Beolab 3, BeoCenter 9300 (BLC 1611/ML/NL)
Bedroom: Sony KD-65XH9077, Beosound Essence MK II with Beolab 6002 and Beolab 11 (all white, wall-mounted)
Dart Room: BeoPlay V1-40 on floor stand
Guest Room: BeoVision 7-40 MK IV, Beolab 7-2, BeoSound Ouverture