Yikes! I remember when my cousins' big screen CRT TV got Wii-mote'd. Didn't look as bad as that. Looked more like a stain on the screen more than anything. Luckily they are THE MOST Craigslist savvy people in the world, so they grabbed a free huge flat screen in the next few days flat.
Since you seem to be testing the waters with a replacement, I'd say go with a Samsung. I've had a few in my time and they're great, pure and simple. Whatever you do though, DON'T get a Vizio. They're America's #1 brand for a reason; they're cheap as $#%*.