bulb life blows pending the projector.
i’d be more concerned about where it’s going. so…where’s it going?
optoma projectors are pretty cheap, but run super hot, and i noticed shitty bulb life on the HD80. i would imagine the operating temp would have some correlation with the bulb life. i just installed a mitsubishi HC1500 to replace a optoma HD80 in one of our studios. it seems alright so far. it’s near your budget.
take into account the room you’re putting it in. specifically, throw ratios, screen size, viewing distance, and ambient lighting.
i’d recommend something over 1000 lumens. most people who do a projector setup want a big ass screen. if you are sitting less than 20 feet away from a 70"+ screen, you’ll probably want a 1080P projector. as far as i know, you won’t find one in your price range. however, 720P is still a good picture.
if i were you i’d save some more scratch and do it right the first time. let’s get some details on the room layout first though.