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What caught my attention was that, if correct, the SE is actually the rarest model built.

That is true a lot of the time. Like many Stern premiums have fewer copies made than limited editions. And based on the production numbers above every potc is pretty rare...

I am in that boat too; I have always thought "I'll wait and get it later" (I waited YEARs for LOTR, Spiderman, etc...). But IF they re-run POTC, it will almost certainly be at a larger cost (just compare Wonka LE to Pirates LE at the same $$$).

And if they don't re-run pirates, prices will likely stay in the same ballpark they are in now, if not drift up if the cookie cutter collectors all pile in on this game (Please please tell me what game should I buy next type collectors...).

AND I live in Canada so any used games I may buy and bring across the border I pay taxes on... so buying used doesn't save me much money.

Long story short I went mad and bought a NIB . Not regretting it a bit so far...

To me that was the math as well. CE was a no go for me (it would have added something like $5000 Canadian or more to the cost, and I only really like the (apparently noisy) topper out of the upgrades. I honestly think the playfield with the Davy Jones squid face is a downgrade over the piratey Depp on the other playfields.

But the +1K price of the SE for the LE was a no brainer, to the point I can see why they sold so few SE's (the underpriced the LE's by at least a $500 to $1000 in comparison).

I doubt it is based on exact assembly order; my SN suggests is it close to game 550 (of the LE's) and was noted to have been assembled in Mid-Feb.

Whether there are 700, 800 or 1000 Pirates out there, the bottom line is Pirates is a fairly limited game at the moment.

In this day of 3d printing and spendy pinball folks, I am sure a lot of stuff will be fixable... for a price

But yeah if they do another pirates run, it will be good to get a larger supply of possible backup items... I am more concerned re: things light light boards and some of the motor based mechs.

Agreed the motors are likely not irreplaceable. But not sure how common the other assembly bits are. Armatures , metal discs etc.

Agreed that stuff like sculptures are a challenge. But physical stuff is easier to jury rig than electrical stuff like surface mount chips and motherboards etc.

If someone "needs" a game to be NIB to be happy all I have to say is good luck to them.