It sounds like a lot to deal with.

That Arctic Frost paste is a known problem on some tech forums. I've seen a few people in the Phoenix area get burned by it too, literally. In my opinion, the paste drying out that fast points to a bad batch or fake product, not just being cheap. I've used basic MX-4 from a real store for years without a single failure. Sometimes the supplier matters more than the brand name on the tube.

Remember my buddy's clam boat sitting idle for weeks. He almost lost his lease over one bad bloom.