Why do logic boards die?

Thanks to all of you for taking your time to share your knowledge. I'm sure you can understand my frustration. This is my first portable computer, and my first and only Mac to date. I've been a PC's user (@college, @work and @home) for 18 years. Most of them have been Dell (4), Compaq's (2) and an Acer netbook (which I bought as a “disposable” computer for travel so I did not have to take my MBP). In those years I've seen very few failures (One 40GB WD hard drive failure, which after being replaced I was lucky enough to recover most of the data in it).

The main reasons I moved to Mac? First, I wanted to skip Windows Vista. Second, Macs do no need system-resource-draining anti-virus software. Third, hopes for a fast, stable and durable product.

@ tjk: I wasn't aware of that one-handed deadly grip. That's a something I'll stop doing, thanks for the advice. In terms of the battery calibration, I did it (for the 1st time as far as I remember) 4-5 days before my MBP died. Anyway, my battery was already holding ~50% of its original capacity, so I wasn't very optimistic about any real benefit at that point. Another lesson I think I learned too late.

@osxtasy91: I couldn't read the macrumors link (couldn't log or register at the site). From the other links I saw the pictures. I agree the heat dissipation design needs rethinking. Although I think that neither the fans nor the LB would have to be replaced in a well designed and expensive system.

@Roger: It is true that no manufacturing process is defect free, and was inclined to think I just had the luck to get a bad product. However, after doing some “googling” I'm coming to the conclusion that there is indeed some sort of manufacturing/design problem with logic boards on the last 3 to 4 years. In the last 2 days I've read posts from an awfully large number of people complaining from similarly doomed logic boards dating back to 2007 Mac models. A few of these users report multiple LB failures in a year. Some people blame it on numerous causes (which I just mention here, but I neither agree or disagree with them) ranging from OS updates, to Apple's switch to Intel processors; true or not, I know that, for whatever reasons, mine failed. I'm afraid to buy another MBP and face the same fate, while on the other hand I'm aware that this could have happened with any other electronic equipment.

Again thanks to all of you for the advice, I just hope this thread is helpful to both other users and Apple itself.

osxtasy91, thanks for the pictures. It helps to understand why these boards are prone to fry so frequently. It seems that there should be some other kind of cooling aid. I may add that I've read also a thread in the iMac discussions where these machines also have similar logic board issues, with repair costs starting at $900. I started researching some info on these machines as an alternative to buying a new laptop. Since I wasn't really taking an advantage on the computer's portability and to keep my existing iPhone syncing, music and photo libraries in iTunes and iPhoto respectively while searching for a "cheaper??" alternative. Seems I ran into a dead end in my search for better options.

@vc187: I agree that QC is not the same as in the past, and in my opinion you can notice it everywhere. We just have to look into trivial things where the likeliness of a customer complaint is either improbable or non-consequent. Take for example a disposable drinking straws with one end sealed. In these trivial cases, I think that such companies are being hit so hard by the current economic situation that is likely they've been forced to loosen their quality standards to deal with production costs. In such cases the risk and implications of a defective unit are obviously not the same as in the case of a costly consumer product such as a computer, LCD TV, a car, etc. What I don't agree completely is that macs are more affordable each an every year. Yes they have somehow lowered their prices, but it seems that there is a hidden (besides high) cost related to the product's durability, not to mention that it seems AppleCare is not optional but rather an almost required add-on to the already high bill if you want to keep your computer for at least 3 years. I'm sure you can understand how it feels.

Let's see if my disposable $350 10-in Acer netbook's logic board can outlast my former MBP. My bet is that it shamefully will.