If the black bars bother you then cover them with tape. You are not loosing anything because they are there - you are gaining height.

Just because the pixel exists doesn't mean you are required to use it.

Opinions like yours are apparently common, so what manufacturers do is remove those areas. You get less pixels, and like it better. Totally preposterous.

Taller screens are better - even when watching widescreen. The extra space is useful for playback controls, closed captions, etc.