1080p/24 (24 frames per second) is something that we'll see, if we're lucky, from HD-DVD or BluRay, since that would match up nicely to the frame rate of Hollywood films. 1080p/60 (a hypothetical 60 frames per second like the existing 720p standard) is something you'd only really want for using your shiny HDTV as a computer monitor. There is enough bandwidth in a DVI or HDMI cable to handle that, but those speeds are higher than present-generation cheapo electronics can process it (e.g., add channel numbers and assorted lame graphics on top). As Moore's Law cranks along, this problem will eventually go away, but it's here with us now.

Meanwhile... going back to the original question, Which HD standard is the one I want (you know...the good one)?, the real answer to your question is that you want to make sure that your TV can digest either one. LCDs, plasmas, and the like generally support 720p "natively" but can downcovert 1080i. Likewise, CRTs (tubes, rear projectors, etc.) generally have "native" support for 1080i but can upconvert 720p. In my case, my TV is a rear projector (1080i native) and can indeed happily digest anything. I just set the HD-TiVo to output 1080i, regardless, and the right thing happens.

As to your other question, What are the best brands? Are Sony Trinitron tubes still the best?, these sorts of questions aren't so easy to answer. The answer depends on what you're trying to optimize.

CRTs have perhaps the nicest color saturation and excellent black levels (i.e., dark colors and texture are still visible, rather than just turning into mud). CRTs are stupidly heavy and, in the case of rear projectors, require alignment, which is a major pain. Rear-projectors also give up something on sharpness, which can be seen as a bug or a feature. The bug is, well, less sharpness. The features is less MPEG blocking artifacts, which can make many shows annoying to watch. Anyway, among the CRTs, Sony Trinitrons continue to be as amazing as they always have. Other vendors are abandoning CRTs, but Sony continues to make great ones.

Plasmas also do reasonably well with black levels. Plasmas put put a lot of heat, and have some weird issues at altitude. Plasmas generally have polished glass front panels, which act like a mirror. If you're in anything other than a perfectly dark room, you'll be looking at yourself in the TV. Plasmas are stunningly sharp.

LCD panels have come from nowhere to be a bigger and bigger part of the market. They don't have any of the burn-in issues of plasmas or CRTs. You give up something on black levels, but not as much as you used to (particularly with those amazing Sharp Aquos units). Some of the newest LCDs use LED arrays for illumination rather than a flourescent tube. That makes them brighter, longer lasting, and have a wider angle of view. LCDs generally have a diffuse coating on them that, in a bright room, will reduce contrast but won't act like a mirror.

DLPs only show up in projectors (either rear or front). Any projector is a great way to get a big screen for a reasonable price. DLPs also do very good black levels, but they have this weird spinning color wheel thing. If you turn your head quick, you can sometimes see rainbow effects. Also, any rear projector (CRT, DLP, whatever) will have angle-of-view issues.

In the bad old days, many of the non-CRT technologies had speed issues. If there was fast motion, you'd see smearing. Anything you purchase new, today, should be free from such issues.

(Personally, I'm hoping to get two more years of life out of my CRT rear projector, after which I anticipate the cost on big LCD panels will have dropped from the present $5000 or so to something that I'll be willing to pay.)