The keys leave marks on the screen of my Voodoo if I don't use one of those. I would say something about how a laptop that costs what a Voodoo costs shouldn't need something like that but I have other things to worry about.
I'm not a lawyer so I might be full of shit, but I know for sure I wouldn't be the only one here.
It's not Apple's "fault" the drive failed, shit happens, and it sounds like it will be replaced free of charge (yay Apple)....
If you have a windows box around you could try SpinRite. If not I wouldn't bother with Apple, I'd send it to Drive Savers. But you really gotta want it because that will a lot of $$$$$$$$.
Where's aussie when you need him, he'll be able to tell you all about how hard drives never fail.
Sucks though that all your stuff is gone, bet better now than 6 months from now. There are a lot of good backup utilities out there,...