I restored my SST in February of 2012. Here's a link to my blog where I detailed it.
http://www.duaneconnell.com/blog/?p=424
Since then I've LED'd it out and it's bad to the bone! I also installed cathode lights under the cabinet. I love this pin. It is severly under-rated.

I had a problem with the auto-launcher. It would just launch a little ways up and drain, from time to time. Got a new auto-launcher assembly and it's great now.
This is a fun pin!

I put my SST out on route back in November. It's surprisingly popular with the kids and the adults. The kids flock to it. I guess because of the blood and guts.

I don't think the ball times are too long. I'll have to check the stats next time I do a cleanout.

I have a SST on route. Lately, a ball will repeatedly get stuck in the far back right corner on the plastic above the right orbit. Anyone else having this and find a solution?

Take a look at Sega Adjustments 27 HSTD Reset Count. This setting has the number of games between automatic resets of high scores. Default is 2,000. I have a SST on route and the high scores were getting reset. I changed this setting to off and the high scores don't get reset any longer. This might be why your scores reset.