I think you might be correct.
I have an 2011 Early MBP15 as well. Right after installing Mavericks, I noticed an issue with Finder space-bar preview, and the Preview app with Olympus RAW images. I described it here:
http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/52430268
The bug seems graphics-related.
My logic board failed some 3 weeks ago, and had to be replaced due the failure of discreet GPU. Lucky me, I still have Applecare, so it was free, and took only 4 days ( which is simply amazing, considering I now live in the Czech republic, with no Apple store ).
I have now tried the ORF file on the new logic board, and the problem is still there.
I do not much care for all the US-style-lawyer class-action lawsuit nonsense, but I think here it might be the only way to make Apple to do the right thing, admit to the problem, and offer fixes to effected users. I just see too many users reporting the discreet GPU failures on the 2011 Early computers for this not to be an issue. And the occurrence seems spiking up in the last few months, corresponding to the release of Mavericks.
Paul.