I was in the same position as you, and looking around, reckoned I would have to pay about £600 for a decent 21"+ TFT. I decided to buy a used 19" Iiyama Vision Master Pro CRT for £60. TFT prices are dropping and quality rising all the while. The next big thing seems to be OLED displays which offer huge contrast ratios, much more even illumination, and a broader gamut. But they have been 'about to appear' for some years now.
www.TrustedReviews.com seems a good place for reviews.