Okay folks- here's the deal:
Thomas Comerford in Ireland who has PixelFixer helped me get set up on the software and I can run a folder of roughly 200 M8 raws in about 30 seconds.... Red line fixed.
My take is:
I am poor as hell but gambled $2200 on a low mileage M8 last march with 1500 clicks that showed no vertical line issues. Recent high iso and including some very underexposed 160 iso shots revealed the problem.
I came so close to sending it in for repair but balked at giving Leica a single dime for an issue that I feel they should cover, (free of charge) on each and every M8 and M9 out there, barring none. Ever heard of the mirror fix on a Canon 5D, regardless of owner or proof of purchase. There was no guarantee Leica was going to fix my camera without charge and in fact many posts have alluded to the contrary.
My intent is to keep the M8 and shoot the crap out of it because I love the files and the rangefinder experience. I;m sure the time will come when the camera needs some real attention, then I will send it in as some have suggested.
Hell I was thinking that at some point Leica will make an announcement that due to the high number of inquiries that they have elected to provide a fix to there valued customers, free of charge and at that point I'll have the "Purple People" pick it up.
I strongly suggest anyone who has a vertical line issue, to give PixelFixer a try... its free and the support was shockingly personal, unlike what others have said about someone else.
See Ya!