I love pinball. Also, the negativity seen in some threads here is quite mild compared to threads about upcoming or released console/PC games. And those are generally only about $50. I would agree with those that have submitted that the problem is the Internet and anonymity.
That said, I also wonder if those most negative are younger? IMHO, among the younger generation (<25) many do suffer from an extreme form of instant gratification disorder. Everything should be perfect, available instantly, and preferably free. It's pretty hard to operate businesses dealing with that demographic....