If I'm going to plunk down anything more than a dollar(and i think that is extreme for some titles, but reasonable for the new stuff), then I better have a guaranteed ball time or length of play. I know a lot of places charge a dollar for Ghostbusters and while I love that game... I'd lose my shirt if I played it on location. I mean... A game of that for me, if they have no ball save timer can be around a minute...
And generally I do need about 3-4 plays on a game to get the feel for it... I personally wouldn't mind like 7 plays for 5 dollars. Or something like that. OR the 3 plays for 2. But, again need some guarantee about ball times.
And I think if pinball on location prices itself out of play... Then that's bad long for this hobby. This hobby needs youngblood. And not much of that going around.

And I agree to you.. .That 2 or 5 dollars per play is peanuts compared to what I've spent even on my cheapest of pins... But, still... If I pay 15 dollars to go see a movie... And I can get cheaper tickets depending on when I go... Then I at least get 90 minutes of entertainment.
So... If I pay 15 dollars and only get 10 minutes of play... Then I'd be pretty pissed.
I also have a rule about the money that I spend. I like at least an hours entertainment for an hours wage. That way I can make sure my party time and work time balance out nicely...

Not what I said.
What I said is if I am going to spend 5 dollars PER GAME. Then it better give me long ball times.
I said 1 dollar per game is a bit too rich for my blood... Yes... Laugh, as I have a maiden Prem and a Monster BashR LE coming...

But, those are assets and time playing a game for fun is fleeting.
And its really only ghostbusters that I suck badly at.
First time I played the hobbit I had like a 10-12 minute game... Maybe a bit longer... And I can go decent on a few others. But, again if the operator is cheap and stingy and no ball saves, and its a tough game. Then I'd walk away pissed and probably would stop feeding tables in the wild.
Asking for 15 minutes per play is not reasonable. But, 5-7 minutes... For 5 dollars... For an average play. That isn't the worst deal ever. Which means spend a few more games and bring it up to 10-15 minute game times.
But, again I think that pricing approach drives people away.

I always strive to play better... Some games though just are not in my wheelhouse. I'm also not a bad player...I think I'm actually what you might consider a good pinball player. Not great. Far from it. But, I do from time to time put up my initials on machines. Was really proud of putting up the 3rd high score on the Sorcerer in Chicago St. Pinball in downtown joliet. As the number 1 and 2 score were the default, and that's a popular machine that gets a lot of plays. So that meant a good bit to me, and also that machine can be brutal. But, I was the Master that day.

And I don't pay 5 dollars for beer. I hate beer. But, I love pinball. But, I do agree it makes no sense for me to hark on 2.50 per game when I have an Maiden Prem at home... But, I am a skin flint. But, if I see a pinball machine in the wild I make it a point to play at least one game on it.