I have a 37" Visio that has been fantastic for nearly 2 years - no complaints except I wish it had one more HDMI port. I'd look at Visio and Sony first at your price point.
Being afraid of heights doesn't really have anything to do with military service. Unless, of course, you're one of the crazies who wants to jump out of perfectly good airplanes (and get paid - heck, I would've done it for free, it's too much fun)!
I basically took 241 down to the road south of the airport (Mt. Pleasant St.) and looped it around a couple of times back to Raber Road (I live about 2 miles from exit 118). If the weather is decent, I'm up for a ride anytime during the week after work (usually ready by 1800, um, 6 PM but can cut it short earlier) and definitely on the weekends. Two Duc's would be even cooler but mine is now "Mustard and Ketchup" with mismatching fairings.
I went out for a ride this evening and it wasn't too bad - a bit windy but otherwise nice and I was the only bike out that I saw in Green/Uniontown/North Canton.
Why not go with a RR front end off of a 600 or 1000? It should bolt right up with the same steering head bearings (the 1000RR was a direct bolt-on to my Hawk).
I had a center stand on my ZX750R and it was all about getting the center stand level with the ground with ample pressure on the center stand with your foot and then leverage it with whatever handholds are provided - momentum is your friend getting the bike to rotate onto it. Even more fun is balancing my Duc while simultaneously getting it up on the rear swingarm stand.
I know it had to be awesome to pin the wings on your daughter. My Dad pinned on mine and we did the blood wings right there on the DZ back in '92. BTW, some of the pictures of the base bring back memories - mostly good ones.
I want that for the track and possibly to convert back to the street - very clean, nicely set up, and good looking to boot. Ugh, I hate this time of the year!!!