AFM's fundamental rules aren't that far removed from early SS pins. If you ignore the Martian ship toy, it's laid out like one too.

What's harder for newbies to get about the game is, for example, why you shouldn't focus on the ship or the forcefield gate until you have a multiball, and to get good at that lock shot because you'll never have that good of a score without it.

Mainly because MM makes it seem a bit shallow in comparison.

Both are masterpieces of simple complexity, if that could exist. Both games are so easy for a complete pinball newbie to pick up, yet deep enough for hardcore players. Not sure of anyone other than Lyman and Brian Eddy who pulled this off so well, let alone twice. They're atop the PS ratings for a reason.