But in Blighty I am always walking past rabbit hutches where the telly takes up a whole wall and looks downright incongruously tasteless.

Depends on the area I suppose. I remember showing some chinese people some properties up around the lake district on right move, and it was like showing a cave man a coffee making machine, or a gas fire. Yes, big TV in poky room looks absurd, as you say if for documentaries and so on, it is worth it, to get all the detail. Anyone remember the old portable tv's with an aerial on top in the UK?