Man you left out a ton:

- going to shows
- pontificating on impending bubble bursting
- complaining about prices
- arguing about which manufacturer should produce dream theme
- complaining about CL buyers/sellers not keeping their word

I'd say 50% restoring, 40% playing, 10% deal hunting (I'd love this to be higher though if you got dealz)

While I enjoy the refurbishing, playing, and deal hunting -- my time and interest are drawn to Pinside daily and I find it quite satisfying.

My numbers seem to change all the time. As I add more games to my project queue, my desire to work on them decreases. I get overwhelmed, I guess.

Conversely, as more of my games are restored, my desire to play increases.

Deal hunting always ranks high.

Other things I've come to enjoy are tuning/tweaking and modding. If you had asked me the same question ten years ago these would not have been on the list.

Never know....may even see design/production and programming on my list in the future.

I love restoring the mechanical and electrical parts of games, polishing them up, making them work and look great. But it is getting harder and harder for me to find deals where I am. I’ve started getting into super Expensive games, NIB, and I’m finding it’s not quite as fun for me

I've been in this hobby for 30+ years now and still enjoy all aspects of it.
Buying a NIB machine just isn't a challenge. Finding a fixer-upper in the wild
for a decent price, taking my time and fixing it up (I do mechanical and SS pins)
then adding it to my collection and playing it is nervana. Hope this never fades!
I'll play the new games at shows and maybe even drool over them a bit
but finding a ratty Gtb sys 1/80 or EM then bringing it back to life is
a lot more fun for me at least.
Steve

I like hanging with all my friends at league and tourneys.

I love tinkering, the hunt, and research, but I think the social aspect is my favorite.

You forgot 'dimple evaluation and discussion '

Haha! Tell me about it!

I've always enjoyed the thrill of the hunt on any hobby where I collect things. Of course the best part though of any hobby is meeting other people willing to talk about your same interests/hobbies.

For me its about
A- playing pinball (is that what its not supposed to be about ?)
B- restoring pins ( i honestly have a blast doing it)
C-meeting so many great people in the hobby !

-bargain hunting
-parts scavenging
-research on history, prototypes, parts, repairs, etc.
-documenting findings & solutions to problems (on pinwiki)
-repairing/restoring games
-repairing circuit boards
-going to shows
-hosting your own pinball show
-playing
-tournaments
-helping others with repair issues
-pinball parties
-repair parties
-introducing new players to pinball
-operating pins on location
-running a barcade
-developing mods, developing new products, or reproducing parts
-designing and building homebrew games
-designing and building game rooms
-recording/streaming videos
-game photography
-blogging
-podcasting

I'm sure there's more.

I love it all but you forgot restorations. I guess it all comes back to playing at some point though.

Deal hunting; but seems I never get a ‘great’ deal. Distance is a factor living in Hong Kong. I know I could get better deals if I lived in a ‘pinball rich’ area like Atlanta, Florida, or the NJ/NT/CT/PA/VA area. I can’t make it to shows or jump on the latest CL ad. My purchases are from other trusting Pinsiders who are willing to deal long distance.

Meeting awesome people....hands down.

Oh, and playing!