Especially when you're just beginning, you want to spend money and energy on your pin(s), perfecting them.
I would highly suggest JUST doing the flipper rebuilds, and then playing the snot out of the machine.
Learn the rules, and see if you enjoy it.
Odds are excellent that you'll buy another one to go beside it (maybe put it on the side of SouthPark that's damaged so you don't see it anymore?), or trade this one for something else, once the novelty wears off.
Know this: the money you invest into a pin to make it play better is usually worthwhile (and not even an option) but beautifying the pin is likely money that will be lost at time of resale.
You can always make it look nicer later, once you decide it's a long term keeper.