I have had 2 Apaches and 1 Touch replaced through the Sprint Repair store(free of charge) due to getting stuck at the align screen page. Follow this thread :
http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=24979 Scroll down to downgrading. You can put the .40 bootloader back on and flash a STOCK ROM. If it still hangs at the align screen page, just take it in to a repair store, they will look at it(All 3 times I went in it took over an hour, even though I could have told them after the first time they couldn't fix it) and they will give you a new/refurbished one. This is assuming you have the TEP or at least repair insurance!