From an e-mail:

Here’s another basic problem with that survey. Any woman worth her shopping salt knows that a cheap flat screen plasma is going to run in the several thousands of dollars. Even if your diamond solitare necklace is the Elsa Peretti Tiffany dot on a chain, and your designer shoe option Manolos, no way you come out ahead dollar-wise by taking one of those against a flat screen. So if I’m asked do I want to be given a flat screen or a diamond necklace or shoes, heck yeah I’m taking the TV. And then I’ll tell my husband that with the money we “saved” to get “his” TV, I can splurge on the shoes. It has nothing to do with technological savvy…

UPDATE: A dude e-mails:

Several THOUSAND dollars??? I don’t know where that emailer is buying her technology, but she obviously doesn’t know her prices. Unless of course she’s a government worker and she’s BIDDING on flat screen televisions. My buddy just bought a 20 inch flat screen computer/tv monitor from a major electronics chain for $340. Far from “in the thousands”. You see–chicks and technology just don’t mix. As you can tell, I don’t own a plasma TV. We’re much too frugal here.

LAST UPDATE: Many, many e-mailers point out:

A “flat screen” does not mean a plasma screen, which is but one type of flat screen (LCD is another). Plus, to my knowledge, no one even makes a plasma screen as small as 20 inches; rather, all current ones are at least 37 inches. I defy you to find a currently available plasma for anything under about $2K.

So….Correction: I own neither a plasma nor a LCD TV. And plasma probably won’t make my Christmas list this year — remember I still need to buy a wireless doohickey so I can blog when in a car in Oregon. Until then I am chained down.