Started out in the 70s playing various EMs in various nearby locations, and in the early 80s I found a place with KISS, Star Trek, and EBD solid states. Played KISS and EBD to death. Worked at a family fun center in the mid-80s and have distinct memories of Space Shuttle and Comet, the first machine with a million point shot. Stayed after work to play those titles for free. Lost track of pinball for a bit, as I was distracted by other things, but finally returned to the fold when I purchased a Meteor off of eBay. Taxi, EBD, Seawitch, and Galaxy followed soon after, all purchased for $200 or less. I remember wishing I could afford a sweet Whirlwind ($1,100) or a STNG ($2,300), but I couldn't justify such luxuries at the time. RGP and Clay's guide saved my ass repeatedly. Like most (all?) of my hobbies (70s stereo equipment, muscle cars), explosive growth has generally priced me out of the game. I'm just glad I was able to buy a home before those prices headed off into the stratosphere. In short, pinball is mostly a nostalgic exercise for me.

EDIT: Not intended as a whine. Just some simple observations of change over time.