I love my 50PZ700u I bought back in September. IMO I've yet to see anything better for the price I paid ($1900). I'd recommend Panasonic plasmas to anyone looking to buy a plasma.
I just got back from Best Buy where I thought I'd walk out with a TH-42PX80 for under $1200. I was not impressed. Contrast was definitely better than the LCDs around it and screen glare was diminished, but for some reason it just looked "grainy" to me. Maybe it wasn't a good connection or the settings were off (sharpness too high, etc.). At any rate, I may take a closer look at the 75 - 77 series while they're being closed out or wait for the 85 and 800.
NEVER judge a TV by what it looks like at Best Buy or any big-box store.