See this latest K-7 user's bug report:-
http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-dslr-discussion/75613-k7-reverting-firmware.html
Everything is clearly explained, and with sample photos posted which show the hot pixels.
In fact, Pentax have been silently updating the firmware "1.01" with minor revisions from (1.01.0)0.05 -> 0.09 -> 1.13 but it seems that whilst the vertical line issue resolution is of mixed results, other serious sensor issues were re-born.