[Jeffhs]

The lines on your CRT may be test signals or closed-captioning, Macrovision, etc. If you are seeing them (you shouldn't), your set might be underscanning somewhat.

For converter boxes, I agree that they can run warm or downright hot. These boxes probably have components just barely large enough (in capacitance, physical size and resistance) to do the job. Needless to say, boxes built using these cheap parts will run hotter and will fail a heck of a lot sooner than those with conservatively-rated or overrated components. I have a "Windsor" brand clock radio in which the components are crowded together in a very small case. I've had this radio for about ten years; it still works, though I'm darned if I know why, as crowded together as the components and power transformer seem to be, looking through the ventilation slots. I would think the heat from the transformer would have done some damage by now, but to date it hasn't, or if it has I haven't noticed it.

I agree on Zenith/Insignia. I have an Insignia 19" flat-panel TV that runs cool, no hot spots on the cabinet. Their converter boxes are, from what I've read, built to outlast those offshore-built Apex, et al. units that often burn up after only a short time.