Prices are crazy but we should probably also be a little bit grateful as it's meant more people are entering the hobby. There was always the worry that "Pinball with die out as people in the hobby get older" but that doesn't appear to be the case. There now seems to be a healthy stream of people in their 30's and 40's buying games, including new games. As others have said we are in a new golden age of pinball.

The only bad thing about the crazy prices is well cost of entering the hobby and buying new games. I'm thankful to own 6 nice games, 5 of which are newer games. However, if it wasn't for entering the hobby 12 - 14 years ago and buying games at way lower prices I probably wouldn't have the games I do today. I've just been trading up to newer games over the years in part due to the profits made on games purchased 5 - 10 years ago.

Lol! Yes.

Yeah big increase. I remember some Star Trek LE's once sold for $6k, games can go up in value and the one off low sale never represented average price. Hobbit has been selling for months on average at above $7k and is now going up more. A friend of mine sold his HUO Hobbit LE about 6 months ago for $7500 which seems like a pretty good deal now. Great loaded pin.

Hobbit is finally getting its due and has become a game a lot of people enjoy, amazing pin for the home environment too with depth to last for years. The JJP team outdid themselves with the final few code updates, an insane level of detail went into the games code. The code needed some work to say the least and JJP ended up going over the top with it. Having what is likely the deepest objective based ruleset in pinball with probably 3x the code as most modern games has helped its value too.

Now who wants my Hobbit LE for $12k? Loaded with many mods (with topper add $2k more). jk lol!

No way, it's not the same thing, not even VR, not even close and I say that having built a VR pinball cabinet. Wearing goggles is awkward, can't play with others either ("Its your turn to wear the goggles"...no). It's a cool concept but its the same as flight and racing sims being its a simulation and doesn't come close to replacing the real deal.

Everyone I know that has had a full size digital pinball cabinet has sold it. Have seen it here countless times. People sell them to buy real pins as they are not a replacement for them. Finally, those $7k - $9k virtual pins will be worth $500 (if that) 10 years from now while a real pin will likely maintain if not go up in value.
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Mechanical pinball is going bust from virtual pinball online play? LOL. There's been online play for years in virtual pinball and meanwhile popularity for real pinball only grows. Virtual pinball has led to more people getting into real pinball machines, not the other way around. How many people are going to buy these one off virtual pinball cabinets for $7k - $8k+ to have a viable online community? Not many. Also, I don't care how good displays get they will never be able to recreate the depth of a real pin (mechs, toys, ramps, etc). Virtual pinball will always look flat (unless playing in VR).

Have you sold all of your real pins that are still in your collection? Shouldn't they be on the curb due to the marvel and technological power of virtual pinball?