Quoted from xTheBlackKnightx:Stern's quality control of their production pinball machines is TERRIBLE in comparison to most late model WMS/BLY SS, and even the Capcom and Gottlieb machines. The more LEs they make the less the rest will be worth.
No pinball machine was designed to be operated for more than 5 years, but WMS/BLY machine keep right on ticking, while Stern machines fall apart.
I am not some WMS/BLY snob either, because I have owned nearly every manufacturer of machines at some point, and I am just speaking from experience.
I still have personal nightmares on the Gottlieb System 80s (BH, HH, MGoW, etc) before replacement boards were available to fix the board pin problems.
Most of the 1990s machine continue to hold their own, and have aged well.
I can't agree with you when you say Stern games don't hold up, or are inferior products. First, I think Stern games are every bit as good/fun as BW games.
I've had one pin POTC which is now 8-9 years old and it has not had a single issue, one light burned out, that's it. It still looks brand new.
Here is a guy with a IJ4 that has over 100,000 games played on it. That's like 400k - 500K balls played I would think. Let's say 5 minutes a game that'd be over one year of time played (total playing time).
Long Beach, CA
Victoria, BC
