What about one of those dot-matrix LCD modules that are turning up all
over the place now? You could get a 128*64 dot display for not too much,
including the drive electronics.
LM 211 - Hitachi 480x64 graphic/alpha-numeric display. Drivers, no controller.
Needs +5v and -9V B.G.Micro $3.50.
There's one. That and an FPGA could imitate a 1861 and CRT, but I'm not
enough of a gear-head to do it.
-ethan