GPU Issue with 2008 MacBook Pro - now what?

About a year ago, my MacBook Pro stopped working reliably after a few months of a flickering screen. I stopped using it, and switched to my iPad and iMac for everything. I'm now looking at things that would require a portable computer, so I got out the MacBook Pro and looked into getting it to work again.
I knew about the GPU issue before, but didn't realize that Apple had extended the repair options (mine would have been covered until May 2012). I'm fairly certain that the GPU is the cause of my problem, as it turns on but stops on the Apple boot screen.
Short of a logic board replacement, is there any solution? Has Apple been known to help anyone out past their repair period? Will baking the board fix the GPU, or is it done for?

Don't pay anyone to do this for you, there is a DIY way that works just as well.  What most repairmen do is bake the logic board and melt the gpu back into place.  There is a way that does this and all it requires is waiting:
1. Plug in your macbook pro (make sure that its off)
2. Turn on the computer, and hwen it chimes, close the lid and turn it updside down.
3. Wrap the macbook in a heavy quilt.
4. Let the computer sit for about an hour.
5. Take it out of the quilt, unplug it and let it cool for 20 minutes.
6. Turn on the computer.
I can say that this works as I had the same problem, and after this method, the computer is up and running, I'm typin this on it now!

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