As someone who is currently experiencing seperation anxiety due to not owning a pinball machine for the first time in four plus years, yes they can absolutely buy happiness. That being said, I highly advise against buying NIB for your first machine. Test the waters of ownership with an older game so if you decide pinball ownership isn't for you it'll be easier to let the game go, easier to sell it, and if you can't sell it for some time, it's only a two thousand dollar headache rather than a 6k plus headache.

I disagree with this sentiment. You're basically saying that it is better to waste a lot of money frivolously than to waste a little bit of money in the same way. My 'risk spending' philosophy is "if you don't know how it's gonna taste, it's better to take a bite small enough to spit out than one too big to chew". If this person decides pinball ownership isn't for them, I highly doubt they will find any comfort in thinking "well it's better to cry in front of a 6k ghostbusters than a 1k sorcerer"

Sure, but you're making this a financial issue, when the dilemma is clearly about op's interest in the hobby. Spend all ya want, doesn't matter if 6k is a drop in the ocean or your life savings. The point I'm trying to make is that if you are unsure about something, no need to dive head first into the deep end and risk drowning, dip your feet in and decide if you wanna go further. Even the richest of the rich can understand that if you invest in something that you're on the fence about its best to have a safety net of minimizing your financial losses should you're interest in that subject wane or disappear.

I've got a cellar full of beers I couldn't afford then, and don't have space for now. Let's all get together and share stories of hobbies that took control of every aspect of our life!!!!!! Story that goes from "hell yeah" to "I'm f$@#ed" the quickest wins some of my baseball cards.