I have a similar issue after digitizer replacement. When the screen/iPad gets hot (i.e. after gaming use especially), the top and bottom of the iPad, about an inch or so, become very difficult to press. If I hold the iPad in hands though and squeeze slightly, (pressing left and right edges toward each other slightly as I type with thumbs in landscape mode) I can get it to press the Q A Z and "ABC" buttons. It's inconsistent, but It seems that re-seating the digitizer, it sometimes fixes it temporarily. In home button to left configuration, the issue is with the four left most buttons, backspace, right shift, Hide keyboard. It's just the left nd right inch while In landscape mode. Also note I expect it's the same while in portrait mode but in that configuration it would be the top and bottom inch of the tablet that do not work) The sides of the tablet, aside from the corners, (the top and bottom while In landscape mode) work great. Just to be crystal clear, the issue is ONLY one inch below the front facing...