Oh, I forgot to add that I bought a symphonic around 1993 or 1994. It finally went out on me a few months ago. I never had any problems with it. And honestly I think the only reason it died was due to a move. Also note this TV has been though half a dozen moves over the past 13 years.
I got ya beat. I have a NEC 20-inch TV I bought for $400 in 1988 ... it WILL NOT DIE!!! We only want one TV in our house, and I can't justify buying another one when this one works perfectly well. Every now and then I think the picture tube is beginning to blow, because we'll see a slow ooze of green on one side of the screen. But it always goes away. I think it's a self-healing model. Go figure. NEC TVs totally rock. I wish they still made them.