I find it fascinating how your brain can switch from using your fingers on a real game to using your thumbs on a tablet without any mental effort whatsoever, for me anyway.

Good idea! I'll report back.

Okay, I tried it, and while it was difficult to find a comfortable way to place my hands, and the physical action of pressing the flipper buttons was weird, having to flex my thumbs sideways rather than in toward my palms like on a tablet, I still had no difficulty or effort required to "remember" I was flipping with my thumbs and not my fingers. Just like on a tablet, my brain rerouted those "flip!" signals from my fingers to my thumbs in the background with no mental effort.

I think I'll keep using my fingers on real pins, though!