ive used both wall and screen, and the wall works just fine. the first wall i used was just some white wall, and the picture was pretty good, then i moved and bought a screen a dalite, i liked the screen a lot.. now i am back to wall, accept witha twist, my wall is tan, a very light tan, not great for projectors but the picture is suprizingly good. Some of the colors are off, but not too much, and having been in my certain contidion that I am now, I will NEVER pay for a 1000$ screen, even if I can afford it. I would say go for it, and paint your wall, whats the worst you can do, waist maybe 100$, I definaly wouldn’t spend 200$ like you said before. Just go to avs and educate yourself, and go from there.