Honestly, until I got some advice on how to connect an older Cinema Display to my MBP, I didn't even realize that the MBP had an HDMI port!  I do agree that it is best to keep the Thunderbolt ports free and appreciate that answer.  That said, out of curiosity, what else do/can you use the HDMI port for????

Also, would one of the adapters yield a better picture or more stable connection?

Thanks so much.

Thanks again for your advice and expertise.