Because some of us are already spending nearly every dime we have on the hobby already. Hobby is great if you have deep pockets and can afford to be a nib stern every year, but most of us are not in that position.

The ads are fine and easily ignored. I do seek out things in the marketplace on here, but not when I am reading a thread. Can just skip over them and when I am in the market for something I will go seek it out, no harm no foul.

Love the logic. Its only insert small amount. Except its not only that.

Its only 15 dollars to get into the pinball tournament that happened last weekend. Plus another 10 for food. Its only coin drop every week to play in either of two weekly leagues. Its only 10 dollars + coin drop to enter into either of those leagues monthly tournaments.

Its death by a thousand cuts. You say 35 dollars a year isn't much, great for you. I'd rather spend that 35 bucks on parts to improve my collection. You know what costs 35 bucks? 4 Bally ribbed flipper bats. I know, just had to order some for the radical I am keeping. Or how about 4 translucent spot targets that are commonly broken and yet nla? Game needs 8, but 4 of them are not to be found.

Going through and shopping my entire collection right now. Hundreds and hundreds of dollars going out. Mystery castle I am at 160 and that is just leds and spot targets. Need to figure out how to make parts to rebuild the flippers. Still need to get rubber. Still trying to track down a source for any of the broken plastics, cracked ramps, or other misc parts.

So yeah, every spare dime I have and several hours a day after work get poured into this hobby; but hey go tell me how to spend my money more why don't you. As for making it possible? My game came from RGP. Pinsiders wanted 4500 for an unshopped one with a bad sound board or 6k for one that is claimed to be huo. The people who have been helping me with parts are on facebook and rgp. The information on what i can substitute comes from rgp. So aside from another place to chat, pinside is not making any of this possible.

For anyone who doesn't read the whole thread I am 100 percent fine with the ads. They aren't hurting anyone.

The majority of what I buy is un-shopped, often total projects. I also end up selling off things regularly to afford this hobby. That is why I have had 51. The money from those sales either got spent on real life butting in like after the first 22 machines I sold out everything, then used the money to live off of while I finished grad school. Then earlier this year I sold out 3 machines of the 6 i owned to afford moving across the country with my gf so she can do the internship for her phd. The reason I am up to seven now was from selling and trading off to get even more projects. So, again stop assuming you know jack squat about me. If you believe in the site that much go throw a few hundred at Robin and leave me be.