need help with digital projector, extended warranty

I bought a $300 800x600 DLP projector a few years back, Optoma brand. The bulb went out after about 9 months, and luckily this was covered under the 1 year warranty. After another couple of years, I got white dots all over the screen from a failing DLP chip. Obviously, I'm past the warranty, and Optoma told me it would cost just over $500 to have it repaired. I'd rather spend that on a new projector.

My big question is regarding an extended warranty. A 3 year warranty would have covered the "dreaded white spot syndrome" that popped up, but not the failing bulb issue.

3 questions:

1) Does anyone offer a GOOD extended warranty that covers bulbs? Most that I've seen treat them as "consumables" - consumables that can often cost 80% of the original cost of the unit to replace. I'd love to go with LED, but they seem too dim at present. (200 or 300 lumen, instead of 3,000)

2) Does any projector company offer a longer standard warranty? My old one came with 1 year parts and labor, including the bulb. Now I'm seeing more being sold that only have 90 days on the bulb.

3) What projector company offers very reasonable prices for replacement bulbs?

I'll probably get an LCD projector instead of DLP, because so many folks seem to have this white spot syndrome after 2-4 years on their DLP projectors. I'd like to get an LCOS projector, but it looks like that tech will take another few years to come down in price. With your help, I'd like to avoid some of the problems that we had with our first projector. This $400-$600 will probably be our biggest single entertainment expenditure over the next few years. Thanks!

Quote from slugbug : With your help, I'd like to avoid some of the problems that we had with our first projector.

I'd be happy to help, but I cannot answer any of your questions without making things up.

Would you be interested in some answers like that? Chances are they would be untrue, but I do want to help.

Quote from uniquename : I'd be happy to help, but I cannot answer any of your questions without making things up. Would you be interested in some answers like that? Chances are they would be untrue, but I do want to help.

OP should accept your offer...your advice/answers will likely be more useful and accurate than most Lounge responses.