Quoted from Deaconblooze:Pool is social. You can carry on conversations or listen to music, even effectively watch a ball game. Pinball demands your full attention the entire time your ball is in play, which can last upwards of 10 minutes if you're having a game. I like to keep pool and darts around as a great passive activity.
Deacon hit it right on the head for me. I miss it for the social aspect of the game. Some nights we would talk more than shoot. My friends miss it more than I do since they don't seem to stay as late anymore.