Comment by apt-apt-apt-apt

I usually left the monitor-to-MBP cable plugged in, but I did have some minor finicky connection issues at one point. But that was nothing compared to the monitor actually dying.

The monitor setup seemed like the ideal solution, less cables and just plug in to the monitor. But the combination of heat from powering the monitor, MBP, the monitor itself, and hot weather does seem like a plausible cause to me.