I doubt that you can purchase a new 4:3 ratio monitor in any of the big box stores, but try Amazon and EBay. I'm the same way and love my HP screen even though it's just 17" To get the same size picture vertically, you have to go to a much larger size, like 22" or more.

Many monitors today can be turned vertical, have you considered that possibility?

Yes, I have but I don't like the way it looks. I've noticed that newer monitors have DVI connections (which my Mac Mini has) vs VGA. Is there a big difference between the two?

dvi vz vga
Most wont notice picture quality.. but dvi is better. Watch the max resolution you might use with both .. generally dvi doesnt run super high resolutions that upper end vga will.

Your computer is digital.. why convert it to analog(vga) then back to digital again in the monitor?

I hate the widescreens also do not know why they are not giving us a choice, most people I know much prefer the 4:3 ratio screen size. For tv and movies I get the widescreen size but for computers use I much rather have 4:3.
We were looking at Fry's recently, I would like something bigger than my current ACer 19" and there was not a single monitor that was not widescreen. I have really loved this 19" Acer.
Here are some listed at new egg
Search Results

also this site has a nice selection
Advanced Filter: Monitors

When my time comes for a new monitor I will go with the flow. When I bought my new W 7 PC, I was so frustrated, it's hard to adjust to new technology at 74. Then I read an article by one of the MS developers and he said try, try, and try again to adjust to new technology or you will be left behind. What I adjusted was my attitude and it worked. LOL

I don't see the fascination in widescreen monitors and I suspect it's as much marketing hype as anything. If widescreen televisions are "better" then so must be widescreen computer monitors (despite, of course, the large number of people who watch TV with two black bars on either side of the image or use the "stretch" mode to turn every actor into an umpa lumpa). There's probably some economy of scale for the panel manufacturers as well.

Off my soap box, there are 4:3 monitors available. Unfortunately finding one (and a comprehensive review) may prove difficult; certainly at your local retailer.

My LCD TVs have options to set your own format, My Phillips sets it automatically. I still don't like it as well as the old TVs. With some movies the faces are really in your face with the top of the head cut off, not matter which option you choose. On my LG one option is "let the program set it". That is where I usually leave it. I've gotten used to the bars, I don't even notice them unless they are horizontal, which is rare.

What do you all think about buying a used monitor? What is the life expectancy of a normal LCD monitor that gets 8 hours of use per day?

I have had my Acer LCD for several years and it is working fine and it stays on at all times except at night when I sleep. Buying anything used is a chance but a brand new one can come dead on arrival sometimes too. Just pay accordingly to age, new ones are quite reasonable these days.