I think it's funny that all ShyGuy does is complain about how much NWR staffers complain.
Re: Movies
Movies are made in variable aspect ratios.
The first movies were made at 1.33 to 1, and then the first "widescreen" was 1.66 to 1 (an aspect ratio that Kubrick liked).
Most movies today are made in either 1.85 to 1 or 2.35 to 1 (or something very very close).
Your normal widescreen TV, 16x9, is roughly 1.77 to 1. It is made as such so it can be right in between your 1.33 films (Casablanca, early Disney, some modern documentaries) and your 2.35 epics (Lawrence of Arabia, Magnolia, Fight Club).
Not many movies are made at actual 16x9 (1.77 to 1) but a few are. This shape on a TV helps prevent overscan for films that are 1.85 to 1, ensures that your 2.35 (or 2.4) to 1 movies are not incredibly small, and also that your 1.33 to 1 pics aren't insanely window-boxed.
In summa, it makes perfect sense I think, though personally I would prefer to have a giant 1.66 to 1 TV that windowed the 1.33 films slightly and letterboxed the 1.85 and up. I don't think many (or any) TVs are made this way, though.
HD doesn't actually look good, to my eyes, on either LCD or Plasma, so I'm steering clear until they're super cheap and high quality.