I think you might be confusing this with one of the 'Real' projection tellies...they were as you say, awful. However, the size and bulb issues may put some folk off.
I put a lot of work, and years of experience in the trade into choosing this unit. When it's right, I still think it takes the prize, though some of the new room-heaters are getting close. At twice the cost.
On JB they've come up with some links that spell out what Sony are doing to address the problems of what was after all supposed to be their flag ship. The Class action lawsuit is not what Sony expected. It remains to be seen what transpires.
They were certainly for sale in Essex a while back. It was the only set in the shop that wasn't on. "We don't waste the bulb unless we have to." LOL, it was a lot of money there...here, about $300 in five years was the aim.