Dead pixels as result of artifacting?

When I got my 8790 in August 04, I inspected it fairly closely and didn't detect any dead or lit pixels on the screen. I do admit that I might not have been looking closely enough, but I seriously didn't see anything. Then, in December/January, my computer started having some serious artifacting problems. Immediately after the first time, I noticed a lit green pixel near the center of the screen. Not too annoying unless you notice it when watching a movie or playing a game (at that point you almost need to focus away from the screen so you don't keep seeing it). I also noticed another 2 or 3 others besides that bright green one. I RMA'd the machine because I couldn't stand the artifacting and also my backlight was flickering. Just got it back and as I was reinstalling Doom3 (which gives you a mostly black background except for the image in the center of the screen), I counted over 20 lit pixels all around the screen (most of them NOT around the edges. . .ie at least 1 inch in from all sides).

I was wondering: Could severe artifacting, as my machine had, cause pixels to become lit? If so, I know for future reference. I don't think I can really say too much to Sager now since I didn't complaing about the pixels right after I got the machine or during the RMA. And no, I haven't tried massaging them yet (just got the machine back a few hours ago). I'll report back if that does anything but I don't think it would fix the ones that were noticeable before the RMA.

they didn't replace my screen (i know because i recognize the lit pixels that were there before i sent it in)

i emailed sager and they told me the tech didn't notice any dead pixels and they want me to send it back to them so they can look at the screen. i'm in the process of deciding what i want to do (being a cs major in school, i can't stand to be without my computer for another 3 weeks). arg, its so frustrating.

oh yeah, i've noticed 2 things since i got the computer back.
1) i'm pretty sure they updated the bios or something because there's always at least one fan running (before, when the temp would hit 40c, the fans would turn off and when it got up to 50c, they'd turn back on again)
2) and this is kinda weird based on number 1. . .my idle temp is a lot higher, like 10 deg C higher. it used to go between 40 and 50 and now, even with the fans on, it is usually between 50 and 60, so it always sounds like the fans are struggling to keep the temps down, but they only really drop when i fn+f10 to put the fans on full blast.