Adding one more data point on North Face warranties. My Mountain Jacket, purchased in 1993, finally gave up the ghost. A couple of holes appeared in the sleeves where the fabric had worn thin, and holes appeared where it wore thru in a few spots. Unlike the OP's case, I wasn't too upset that this happened, as 30 years and ~750 ski days, plus other use, feels like a reasonable lifespan.
Nonetheless I took the jacket with me when I went to my local North Face store to look for a replacement, and they said I should send it in for warranty evaluation. To my surprise North Face told me they'd cover this, but the jacket itself couldn't be repaired. Instead they credited me with my original purchase price of the jacket to use towards a replacement. Prices have gone up a bit, but it made a new jacket very affordable.
All in all, I was psyched with how they covered it and now I have a brand new jacket that I hope will last another 30 years.