I used to have one of those behemoth CRT TVs, i think that exact model. I replaced it over a year ago with a proper flat screen

The problem with a flat screen and classic gaming is that...various things will not be right.

1: the tv has to take a 250i signal and make it 720p or higher...it will be scaled and introduce artifacts.

2: Any light gun will fail to work, Zapper Type relies upon precise timing, LCD displays lag a few milliseconds so they cannot display the signal where the target is. When the zapper goes off the screen goes black except for the targets, they light up white, this takes milliseconds. If the LCD had a fast enough refresh it should work, but most are in the 2.5ms range vs instant like a CRT, plasma may work though due to it having the same instant refresh. Sega Menacer/Nintendo SuperSCope are fancier...they rely upon the refresh rate of the CRT and scanlines...plasma/LCD are progressive scan, so that means the timing is off even on an interlaced signal, plus they do not give off the same data.

3: The games look crisper due to #1 and the fact that the system was designed to take advantage of shortcomings on the original hardware

I have gotten quite used to using emulation to play older games. I know it's not exactly the same as the older systems, but I don't have the room or desire to keep old systems like that hooked up to my TV.