In fact, those SDM death reports have never ever stopped. Different users/owners of those expensive SDM lenses, in particular mostly with DA*16-50 and DA*50-135, have been reporting/complaining about the death of the SDMs in their lenses, at various different Pentax forums everywhere on this planet, from day to day.
A few very recent cases as reported:-
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1036&thread=33020855
(DA* 16-50)
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1036&thread=32988147
(DA* 16-50, 50-135 and DA* 300)
http://www.dchome.net/viewthread.php?tid=757982
(DA* 50-135; Posts in Traditional Chinese)
So, putting aside the ridiculous slow speed of the SDM lenses in doing AF of the Pentax SDM design (of which this "modern" design is yet much slower than the original Pentax body-driven "screw" AF back to the 80s!), the reliability of the SDM is still in question after years of launch. What have Pentax been doing? Still no solution and any possible remedial action by the manufacturer?
And, it's rather funny that someone has suggested that it's Hoya whom should be blamed instead of "Pentax"? So, what's the difference?? (Fanboyism in action and serious symptom shown?!)