Are they not using 7 ply clear maple plywood anymore? From what I remember, there aren't many suppliers of the plywood used to make pinball playfields because there can be no hollow layers internally.

With faster the ball activity of todays pinballs, there will be damage to wood. It is inevitable and all the clears in the world won't stop the compression caused by the hit. Any time there is an edge the ball can touch/hit, it will get beat up if enough force is applied into the edge. Maybe that's why Cliffy protectors are installed.

Clear coat is still a paint. The problem becomes how well it can bond to the wood and stay bonded. If clear is applied over some art, the same still applies, the bond is still only as good as the art screen paint bond to the wood. I think you'll see more of this type of wear with faster games in time unless something that bonds better to wood (in the clears/paints) is used. Once the ball gets airborn anything is possible.

Some of the clears banned (cancer causing) in the USA but still used in other countries are much stronger at bonding to wood than presently used. It's amazing how well the older Zaccaria playfields still look today.

I'm not that familiar with the newest Stern games but I'll bet that the way the ball is being introduced to the plunger lane via the mechanisim probably has something to do with the wear being seen.

Bare wood won't last at all without some form of protection, paint or metal.

As in Global Thermonuclial War, the best way to prevent wear is not to play the game. But what fun is that?

Blame Canada.

I think you just did bud.