Edge-lit LCDs are TOTAL shit and even the "nice" backlit LCD sets with local dimming generally have less contrast (and therefore crappy blacks), less viewing angle, and less uniform picture. OTOH, plasma is heavy, not energy efficient, can suffer from screen burn, and have less viewing life (iirc, still greater than 10,000 hours).
And if you didn't go to a high end HT shop, I'm sure they did look like shit. All of them.
the samsungs we've been getting at work have amazing blacks. (that's racist!) the blacks look like the tv is actually off. fuck your plasmer.