The panels with the outboard box shouldn't necessarily cost more than any other plasma. The "box" just takes anything that would normally be inside the panel, tuners, scalers etc, and puts them all, along with all your component, DVI, connectors etc on a separate chassis. Then there is only one cable needed (or possible) from the box to the panel. Unfortunately, most of the cables are proprietary and as you have heard, anything longer than the standard 10 footer will cost you an arm and a leg.

Is this setup going to have a surround system or are you using the (crappy) onboard speakers? If using an outboard surround surround system, then go with a Fujitsu panel. Monitor only, but IMO, the best picture quality. Maybe more money, but worth it. I know the list of the Pioneer is 10k and the Fujitsu is, I think, 7k. Streets may differ.