Just had a quick flick around t'interweb (yes, bored) and the general consensus seems to be the problem of upscaling the SD to the much higher HD (or UHD).
I've no idea 'cos I don't play with mine (in case I bugger up a decent picture), but can you 'tone down' the upscaling to get a decent balance between HD and SD?
People with much better knowledge than I would obviously know where/how to fiddle with menus and settings . . . if that's the way to go.
I think the advances in technology have now left SD floundering when viewed on newer TV's, when this Plasma eventually dies I'll be grabbing a second hand one to replace it