Just a follow-up for any who read the thread...
So After a week or two of going back and forth between settings and monitors, it has become clear that (dang-it) my new CRT is really just so much brighter. Its crazy to me, but after using the CRT for a bit, that's just the way it looks. I have no beef with the display on its own...
But when you put the LCD next to it and turn it on... the CRT just looks dirty.
Bravo for LCD's!