I guess it depends on what you use the monitor for. LCDs have a few limitations compared to CRTs that are evident to gamers and some others. For viewing text, which is what I do, I think LCDs are superior. It's just my subjective view, but I'm convinced. It may make a difference if you are running an OS that has clear type fonts, like XP. I don't notice any color rendition problems either and I doubt that most people would. I think pictures look great.
I have a short depth 17" Viewsonic CRT sitting on the floor that I haven't used in 6 months. I used a 21" Trinitron at work. I definitely prefer my Samsung 172t 17" LCD monitors.
A 17" LCD monitor has the same size screen as an 18" CRT because with CRTs the overall tube diagonal is measured, not the viewable part, just like TV picture tubes are measured.
LCD's have no doubt gotten better and cheaper since I bought mine two years ago. I can't give you a particular recommendation. I paid extra for mine because they have two video connectors which lets me switch it between computers. One connector is digital (DVI) and the other is analog (VGA?). I'd buy another Samsung, but I've not used any others so that doesn't mean much.
The first thing you will notice about an LCD monitor is it's bright. Really bright. But adjustable of course. The next thing you will probably notice is it's flat. Really flat. In fact the first time I used an LCD the screen seemed concave after using CRTs for so many years.
I think Samsung makes at least 10 different models of 17" LCD monitors. Some have fast response time for gamers, some have speakers, some can be rotated from landscape to portrait, some have DVI, some may have better colors. Damned confusing.