If you can buy your top 2 or 3 TV picks from a store that has a no-restocking-fee return policy, I would do that and compare the TVs at your home, side by side. We have a Panasonic P54G10 54" plasma. We like it. The P54V10 (the V10 is a higher model than the G10) was out of our price range so I didn't check to see what the advantages of the V10 are over the G10...if you can get your hands on a P54V10 (~$2000), I'd pick that as one of your TVs to compare.
As for Samsung LEDs, what I've heard is either pick the B8000 or B8500 series LED, or don't buy one. The B8500 is out of your price range, but the 55" UN55B8000 at Beach Camera (with Bing Cash Back) is right around $2200. However, I don't think CNET gave the B8000 an amazing review.
LG has, from what I've heard, a good LED TV at a good price (the LG LH90). ~$1400 for the 47" and ~$1900 for the 55.
You can also check out the Samsung PN50B650 or PN50B850/B860. The latter, afaik, is just a thinner, more expensive, nicer looking version of the B650. These plasmas have gotten good reviews and can be had either in 50" or 58".
Basically, I would look at a Panasonic P54V10 54" plasma, Samsung P50B850/860 plasma, Samsung UN55B8000 55" LED, and 55" LG LH90 LED for your price range. But also check out the Panasonic P54G10 and Samsung P50B650 to see what cheaper TVs have to offer. I wouldn't recommend an LCD unless it's a Samsung, and even then, if you can afford an LED, there's no point in settling for a cheaper LCD set. I would stick to plasma or LED.
BTW, if you have worries about burn-in for the Panasonic plasmas, we don't take care of our P54G10. I'm only home on the weekends (I go to school 100 miles away) and my parents almost always watch TV with black bars. Sometimes the TV will be paused for 20 minutes. We've experienced no problems. On another note, while I don't know how much better LEDs are when it comes to glare, the Panasonic is NOT good if direct light will hit it. In the room the TV is in, there are a LOT of windows. It still works fine. BUT, if we put the TV in a spot where we can see the reflection of a window in the screen, the TV is HORRIBLE. Let me try and explain. If the TV is placed on the West wall of the room and you sit on the East side of the room, make sure there are no windows behind you (on the East wall of the room). Now, I don't know if this is specific to Panasonics, plasmas, or all flat-screen TVs.
Sorry for the long post, but I hope it helped.