Elvira and BM66

Distributors take refundable deposits for JJP orders. So mentioning heighway or dutch pinball has no relevance to JJP delivering your game. Distributors buy the games from JJP when they are (almost) ready to go out. They aren't bootstrapping it. Games are going out every week. People are announcing they received their games every day on this site. People pre-order cars, memorabilia statues, and lots of other things that have a much longer timeframe to wait. Updates by distributors have been accurate. The response to this game has been overwhelming and they are ramping up a new factory. The narrative that JJP is 'struggling' is ridiculous. They aren't Stern. Nobody said they are. They do want to have two lines going. It's a process and considering they made the move in 2020 during the pandemic is pretty incredible. Sounds like they are serious to me.

The price increase was not to 'lock in' current pre-orders.

One day you can buy a pin that is in stock. You'll just have to wait. Whether you have a $2,000 refundable deposit with a distributor or you keep it so you don't feel tied down is up to you. But the day this game was revealed it was on the production line. That's a huge improvement.