Laserdiscs in 16:9

I have heard quite a few people say that playing back letterbox widescreen Laserdiscs using the 16:9 mode which my 32" HDTV automatically converts to, is a bad thing. My HDTV doesn't have any zoom modes, and in 4:3 mode it puts black bars all around the image forming a box with the picture in the center. Anyway, I don't mind the stretching to 16:9 mode for the picture to fill up the screen because truth be told, IMO, the stretching isn't distracting to me at all and yet some people keep telling me how stupid I am for doing this even when I clarify that my HDTV DOES NOT have any zoom options. What do you guys think? I am annoyed by these snobby comments but I'd like to hear some feedback from posters here.

and FYI, I am very pleased with the overall picture quality on my 32" LCD. Can look pretty close to DVD-quality.

Mate

If the stretching of the image doesn't bother you then there's not really a problem, I would rather fill the screen than look at a tiny image with bars all round
I am currently watching my laserdisc on a 55" tv and to be honest I would probably get a better image from DVD and defiantly from Bluray but that's not what laserdisc is all about in my opinion

smitken wrote:Mate

If the stretching of the image doesn't bother you then there's not really a problem, I would rather fill the screen than look at a tiny image with bars all round
I am currently watching my laserdisc on a 55" tv and to be honest I would probably get a better image from DVD and defiantly from Bluray but that's not what laserdisc is all about in my opinion

Thank you for posting in such a civil and understanding way.

I am also glad that I am not alone in regards to the preference of filling the screen rather than watching a tiny image with bars all around side it (which mind you is what those snobby arrogant posters expect for people who use LCD or plasmas for Laserdiscs without zoom modes, to do.) I mean sure the stretching might look a bit distorted to start off with, but after about 5 seconds I quickly adjust to it and its more then perfectly watchable to me as I have previously stated.

Yeah I have a 55" display as well in my living room, never use it for Laserdiscs, but yes, Laserdisc can't compete with newer technology like DVD and especially Blu-Ray nor can you expect it to. Like you said, that's not what Laserdisc is about.