For me, pinball is a lifelong metaphor. Regardless of how skillful, educated, knowledgable you become of the game......you're never in control.

I just tell people that there are actually goals/rules and you need to complete specific shots to make that happen. Once they understand there are others goals and skill required they understand. Most usually reply, "Really?! I just thought you banged the little ball around."

"How much do they cost?" is allways the question the uninitiated people ask me now. I tell them I learned two things very quickly about cost:
1. In general, more recent machines actually cost more than older machines
2. Whatever you would guess the price is for a NIB machine, take that number and double or triple it, and that is how much they actually cost.

I always explained it as, There is a ton of skill involved I show them some pinball 101 on my iphone. Then I say something along the lines of for around 2 bucks i can play for 30-45 mins on a game that is in pretty good shape. And its really fun nothing beats hearing the machine scream jackpot, double jackpot, super jackpot. its awesome

I like to compare it to billiards (originally based off a billiard-like table), but it's a multi-walled playing field (unlike billiards). And then you toss in multiple balls, and the game becomes that of multi-tasking. Also, it's a constant struggle of keeping the ball from the drain.

Another metaphor, it's like playing baseball (flipper bats), cept you never have to play outfield, You are always at bat.

Like playing offense and defense at the same time (that's from some TV segment on Portland's pinball prominence).

I explained pinball to my cousins that are all under 18 but above 10yo. I showed them my TSPP and they all loved playing it and want to see me get another one! Even better, they knew not to double-flip.