Real bummer for you! I've been using a 20" & 22" both Samsung for over 6 months & couldn't be happier. Bought the 20" first. It had/has a shadow spot kind of irregulad like an ink blotch but didn't want to go thru the hassle of packing it up and doing an RMA especially when the shadow doesn't show at all except when there is no image on it.
That being said I plan to get another or 2 LCD's & because of my experience, they will certainly be Samsung.
Hope you get it straightened out. Also there are almost always deals on the web.