Do you have any sort of empirical evidence to support your frequent claim that CCFL loses 50% of the brightness per year?
Its a fact of the technology just google and try to read about CCFL technology.
I've done a long and hard comparisons and read about CCFL backlighting for 3 years when I was contemplating and did own the 20", 23", 30" ACD for the past 3 years.
For example first time I had the 23" ACD I used it at 1 notch brightness out of the full brightness since it was very bright in the beginning.
6 months later I had to use it at 3 notches to match the original 1 notch of brightness, even then I had to wait 3-5 minutes for the 23" ACD to reach its full brightness of that 3 notches and while it was warming up it looked blurry.
I've owned the 23" ACD 2 times in the past 3 years. 20" ACD and 30" ACD.
Same goes with all my other lcd displays with ccfl backlighting.
Now with the LED I just turn it on and wala instant 100% brightness no fuzzy/blurriness until its fully warmed up or anything.
I used spyder3 with the 24" LED ACD and its the most vivid/accurate in color monitor I've ever used. Something about the LED backlighting brings the clarity of the display (not only brighter) of course. Also the H-IPS panel doesnt have that sparkly look the previous cinema display had + viewing angle even in extreme looks excellent. I wouldnt buy anything except LED backlit monitors as of now especially when the 24" LED ACDs guarantees you an H-IPS panel.
Try to look for this type of display for this price anywhere, you wont find it for another year or so. I know samsung are the only ones that had the 24" LED and 30" but they cost $2500 for the 24" and its not even an H-IPS panel I believe it was an S-PVA, while the 30" I believe on the hardforums people concluded it was an S-IPS panel but then it still cost $4400.
I just use it at 100% brightness and night time I Just lower it down a 4-5 notches down since its so bright and I had my 24" since December and hasnt dimmed whatsoever.