jayctoy,
Yes, you used your player a lot. Pity you didn't take the time to check the laser use times and levels before you took it in to be repaired. But you didn't.
You mentioned that you bought an open box player, so it came with some use time on it. Impossible to know how much it had when you started.
Anyway, with the new laser you have a chance to start at the beginning and can monitor the laser, if you choose to do so.
It is all better now!