Not this shit again.

Well, I'll say what I've been saying.. ever since Stern was purchased by an investment firm (Hagerty Peterson and Company), their "passion for pinball" has become more about "passion about making every dime we can". Sure they are still pumping out machines, but I've watched several interviews with Gary Stern over the past year and he talks firmly about being a manufacturing company that is in business to make money, and he seems less passionate about the machines themselves or what the collectors want. Look at the cheeping out on the little things, such as the backbox locking mechs, playfield slides, etc., etc.

Yep, this is what a business wants.. I'm not being critical, just pointing out my observations. Code takes time and money, and that gets in the way of immediate profit.. so they release early.

Don't like it? Don't buy. Hard to do when you love a hobby, believe me I know, but that's all we can do. And hope things change for the better FOR US.

I can honestly say that I have not bought a NIB Stern in a long time, and most of the guys I know that used to buy them regularly have not either. Some only bought Star Trek because of theme alone.

I'm in the "don't whine, vote with your wallet" camp.