Actually, I could tell the difference when we created a fun demonstration. It is more to do with the color quality, I thought when evaluating the difference. However, HDMI can be just superior enough that you can actually see more
flaws in PQ, that the component can't reproduce. One good friend of mine couldn't tell the difference between HDMI and Component on his high-end HDTV's, but the difference was dramatic-in HDMI's favor--on his low end HDTV's.
So, the irony is, analog component can, in the real world use and personal preference, be considered by many people to be of slightly
better quality than HDMI.
However, with Blu-ray or upconverted DVD's from a player HDMI is the only way to get the highest resolution, and I do see an appreciable difference there. HDMI also allows for components on your system "talk to each other" for automated features. And, of course, HDMI is the only way to enjoy the Deep Color vaporware. When will they make Blu-ray's with Deep Color, anyway?

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