Quoted from Darscot:

Man I would love to know the inner workings at Stern. This looks like a revenue issue they need some quick cash to carry them to the next release. Yet rumors are revenue is way up. This is the kind of thing you see when companies are really tight for operational budget. Why are they doing this kind of thing and not what you are saying and focusing on improvements and making the next game great.

Quoted from RJW:

The only reason people want one over a regular premium is because of its relative rarity but that's only because very few people wanted it in the first place.

Quoted from RJW:

Ya, I guess you didn't read the part where I acknowledged I'm in the minority on my feelings towards the Luci art package?

Quoted from 27dnast:

In my opinion... (and this is just an opinion) the originals are still the most desirable. Why? Old style backbox that's not made of metal... and the drummer. The drummer has been scrubbed from the new versions of the game.
Why does the backbox matter to me? The old style is just more robust. I had to take apart a new style metal one because of a defective side panel on another title. Aside from being a total pain in the __, once it started coming apart it just felt cheap. Also, the old style gives the overall game a tad more weight in the hands. To me, feels better.
As for the drummer art (if you can call it that... perhaps "image" is better)... probably totally inconsequential to some, but it's a definitive difference that no mod can make up for. You either have it on the playfield or don't. The new games don't.
Then, as a side note, there's the general cheapening of Stern builds. I have no idea if Stern is using the exact same components or new versions above and below the playfield. The cynical side of me says they are using less expensive/durable parts...but that could be totally wrong. Some of the recent playfield debacles have definitely given me pause.

Quoted from jar155:

It feels WAY better to have the old style backbox. The game shoots the same, but nudges and feel are different due to the weight difference. It's very, very noticeable on other VEs as well, especially Spider-Man.

Quoted from 27dnast:

The side panels of the new backboxes are subject to the same bumps and dings as older style games. And their cheap as hell... pressed wood covered in an ultra thin black vinyl with a decal on top. I know... I had to replace one because it came defective from factory.

Quoted from 27dnast:

The side panels of the backbox are not metal....

Quoted from 27dnast:

Unless you had mistaken the vinyl overlay on the pressed wood as metal. It has a textured surface like metal might... but it's basically a very thin black rigid vinyl that's glued to some kind of lightweight pressed wood.