A note on doing your own LCD-
It really isn't THAT difficult or advanced.
The one I have uses the HD44780 controller (from memory- I think thats the right #...) and works on parallel only.
I am NOT any good at understanding all the codes for resistors, capacitors, etc. But I can read directions and run basic multimeter functions like checking voltage and looking for an open circuit. I can even read resistance as long as I know what values I am looking for
But I really don't understand what is going on in all that stuff!
But I did wire up an LCD that works just fine (in Windows anyway; In Linux it doesn't but I think that is a software problem.)
Small lcd displays can be bought for less than $20- sometimes much less. That and about $10 at a Radio Shack and you can have all the parts you need, including the cable end for the parallel port.
If you have a $60 budget for an LCD, that is enough for a soldering iron, meter and parts for two displays so you can wreck your first one
(Hopefully you won't of course
)