This is precisely why I asked the question. I have a Toshiba HDTV Ready display. Bought it in 2001/2002. Can't quite remember, but anyways, it was a while ago.
It is a 4:3 box, which has a compression setting for 16:9. It supports 1080i, but no 720P. I actually think the documentation says it supports 540P, which would be exactly 1/2 the interlaced lines. When I plug my PS3 in via component (doesn't even have HDMI, not sure any/many did when I bought mine), it down converts games to 480P. My PS2 was THAT good. I have it connected to my smaller LCD upstairs now, but it doesn't have 1080P. So I am stuck using it in the wrong room with the smaller TV, just to take advantage of the hardware. A new tv is in my future, but I will have to figure out how to unload a perfectly good HDTV Ready CRT that has no HDMI, is huge, and weighs over 200lbs. Should be easy to get my investment back out of it when they are selling decent LCDs for under $1000. I guess being an early adopter has it's disadvantages.
Bryan