Quoted from phishrace:

While I appreciate your enthusiasm, I don't appreciate you generalizing about operators and location games. My games are clean and working 99% of the time. When one has a problem, I get a call and the game gets fixed within 24 hours. I regularly get compliments on my games. There are plenty of other operators here on pinside like me that take pride in operating clean and working (and fun) games. The one or two locations near me (225 locations, 527 games) that charge $1 a game (I don't) also offer 3 games for $2.
While location pinball isn't growing as fast as home ownership, it is growing. The pinball maps show it. I just recently got a new location and now have 3 more of my games out there. Looking at the pinball map, the Dallas/ FT Worth area has 20 locations with 45 games. Do you ever go to those locations? Have you ever considered operating any of your games? Now is a very good time to solicit business owners.
The absolute best way to support the hobby is to operate games. The second best way to support the hobby is to play on location regularly. And if you really think location play is 'stuck in the mud', keep and eye on the link below. It's not.
http://pinballmap.com/