I think...

...this will hit them harder than they expect. As suggested, it's the major factor keeping me with them. The Barracuda has been a great series. I've had dozens of them over the years, and always had a warm fuzzy feeling that any epic fail within the useful life of the drive would be covered by a replacement. Now that feeling is gone... well, the price premium (which I always thought of as "insurance") just won't be worth it. That Samsung Spinpoint F1 is looking attractive... or maybe something from WD. I feel a seven year itch coming on...