I don't understand Stern's decision making process when it comes to cost-cutting. I get that every business is in business to make money (as much as possible) but you have to draw the line somewhere. I understand plastics and metal on the playfield being thinner, reducing wiring harness's, surface mounted electronics ... but I question the logic of under-engineering/building the cabinet of an appliance where the #1 premise is to nudge it (to the point of tilting) to increase playtime and the "heavy" appliance is on 4 legs bolted to the cabinet corners which undergoes so much stress (and is often used in a commercial establishment and takes a lot of abuse).
IF they have decided to use beefier leg plates only on the LE's and Premiums and not on the PRO's then it makes even less sense because everyone knows that the high-end collector with money spends more time looking at their machines than playing them. (I kid - ok I generalize!)
The hit they take to their reputation and resulting sales would certainly not be insignificant (sure they will sell all the IMDN pins they can) but they limit their longer term growth "potential". Why would they do that again?
I love pinball and Stern but I won't automatically give them a pass on stuff like this just because they (think) they are the #1 pinball company in the world. Come on Stern make this 100% right by making it not happen at all - cause this one is just not that hard.