I haven't really had a lot of bad luck with electronics to be honest. I've had a few things that have gone bad (computer parts for example), and my Xbox 360 twice, of course.
I'm still paying for the TV in the living room, even though I'm not 100% happy with it now. The price I bought mine for a year or so back, would have got me a much bigger, and a full HD screen now, so I'd definietly send that thing off for repairs.
Computer parts I don't tend to bother sending back though, as they'll find something to void the warranty. I.e, the power supply that blew on me, was a bit dusty to be honest...
The hard drive is still under warranty, but theres no real point doing that now either.
I have sent off my Sega Dreamcast too once, a while back now. We got a 5 year guarantee, and where we got it from (won't disclose), they started laughing at us because the guarantee was about to run out, and the Dreamcast had long been dead to Sega, and they didn't think we'd be able to find the receipt, from that long ago.
Well, guess what? we did! That took the smile from their faces, and they had to send it off for repairs.
Its still working now