If you (whoever started this thread) are dedicated to this hobby, you better be ready to pull off the glass every once in a while, otherwise buy a video game. I bought 2 NIB machines this year and one had a very easy to fix issue that both my distributor and Stern ...during the covid production line shut down!...quickly diagnosed and fixed. the other machine is still running perfectly w/ no issues.
Obviously ymmv. but set your expectations accordingly and wash your hands after handling the merchandise.

Do you have better data on this subject. I mean, is it just 2020 where home sales were the majority, or has it been happening for years?

the pinball industry needs a service corp.
Ever bought a new heat pump for your house? It's expensive. and hard to transport, and install on you own. And sometimes it doesnt work right away, and needs to be adjusted. Same thing.
Who installs and maintains it for you?

If pinball ever grows up, it will be because of a service corp that can make enough money installing and servicing machines. Until then, buyer beware, and no complaints please.

When Stern launches SternU and certifies different levels of pinball technicians...Apprentice, Skilled, Master....well then just shoot me.

but pinball machines are not appliances. They are like boats, which need constant attention for optimal enjoyment. They are a steel storm in a wood box! How can we expect 100% perfection with a hand-made product?

Don't know about LOTR but TSSP was released the same year and has the same issue with the VUKs

100% agree After dipping my toe in years ago with a fixer-upper Xenon machine and learning the basics of flipper repair and various electronic challenges with an old pin...and a newer 2004 vintage Stern that needed VUK replacement and cliffy mods, I fell into some cash and bought a NIB JP Pre. After 3 games it bricked with...as it turned out after several video calls with Stern support...a bad CPU board. Easily replaced and has been rock solid since.
BUT....I just got an old ST Pro that has likely had 5000 games played on it. Paid a fair price. It plays like new. It looks like new. The only complaint is the high score initials aren't mine. I'll never by NIB again. My buddy bought a NIB Turtles Pre and the code was crap until lately...still not perfect. I have not heard of any game in 2020 that was rock solid out of the box.
Buy used. Like a car. But buy from someone who LOVEs their car!

Ouch! what do you really think?

I had two NIBs that both landed with slight issues...that were expected...and were easy to adjust.
I don't really believe in this thread's pretext. It just sounds bitchy.