I think we should write a book called "Preordering Pins for Dummies".

1. Take the initial down payment.
2. Put it in a savings account or short-term corporate bond fund.
3. When new deadlines come up, deposit money into account.
4. If/when the stars align and pin ships, use pin map to find one and play in person.
5. If you like the game, withdraw funds, add 10% more from your pocket and buy it.
6. If it never ships or you don't like it, salivate over next pin announcement instead.

The 10% extra you pay is more than made up for by retaining use/control of your money and avoiding bearing someone else's business, development and financial risk in the interim. The number of pins that skyrocket after release are relatively few and if something is insanely popular, they'll make more. Handing out free loans to guys you don't know based on vague promises and napkin drawings is idiotic. It's the pinball equivalent of buying lottery tickets.

Normally I'd never invest money in equities if I planned on using it in the same year, but compared to giving a bunch of money to a random startup, it makes total sense.