The hobby isn't imploding. The only byproduct of the crap year was that I only added one NIB game in 2016 (which is one more than I plan to add in 17 due to issues you laid out). However, my hobby of pinball is very strong. I added other used games in the last year, and I'll add more this year. I don't sell as much, but that is because the game I have is probably better than the game I'd buy. Manufacturers are a cool part of this hobby, but they are spitting the bit. Higher prices with lower quality, and that's from the best of the bunch? No thanks, I'll stick with the games I have.

Stern has had meaningless QC issues for ages. They were very responsive to them too. At worst your NIB game wouldn't be playable the first week or two. They would send you a part, you would bolt it in, and all was well. Now that it's a very expensive part in both cost and labor (playfield), it is something new. It takes six months to get a replacement, if you can get one at all. This is way different than getting a game with a bunch of loose screws or switches out of adjustment. It's all new.