(In reply to comment #10)
> (In reply to comment #9)
> > the X server won't be able to actually draw anything
> > anymore. Would that really be an improvement?
> 
> I don't know, that's your call to make.
> 
> Other drivers like Intel's are capable of recovering from GPU hangs
> (sometimes?) by resetting the hardware or whatnot. I wasn't sure whether
> Radeon does or not.

Radeon attempts to reset the hw as well.  It's not always successful.