We have a Mitsubishi LCD in the family room for about the last 8 years. About 18 months in had some kind of pixel issue, called Mitsubishi and they had someone come out and replace the entire front panel. The person who came out had been repairing TV's for like 3 months, was a simple matter of taking out and replacing some screws. Maybe replacing the panel is an option?
TV has been great ever since. Paid for a professional calibration when I bought the TV, and the picture is still great. Calibration was in the guts of the TV, so just carried over to new panel.
In terms of Samsung, been my goto for a long while TV wise, have a 55inch on the porch that has been outside for the last 5 years, never comes in, and doing just fine.