With the absolute inability to source replacement node boards and Stern's proprietary hold on the schematics you may well have the proverbial boat anchor. Good luck finding SAM playfield boards never mind the newer Spike boards. Of course in 5, 10, 15 years from now some enterprising individual will figure out that there is a strong market place for replacement boards. We can only hope.

I do not believe that the Spike system is awful. It has benefits: less cabling, serviceability with the node boards and modules, lower running voltage. This all hinges on the critical factor of node board availability. Why would Stern stop making Spike boards? Because they can if they move on to a better system. They do not supply much in the way of SAM board replacement. Why not?

Quoted from meSz:
You mean when there was only one pinball manufacturer and they were doing everything to stay afloat, oh yeah the good old days!
The speculation BS has always been there, we just now have the ease of the internet to get that "BS" out of one's head to the rest of the world!
5, 10, 15 years from now all the post will be .... remember when you use to be able to buy a machine and flip it for money? Now I have this 20k$ paperweight I cant give away!

It started with the first quote if you were following the thread. I replied as to the unavailability of Stern boards. In my case, it is an LED board for AC-DC that seems to be unobtainable. Mea culpa if you thought that the thread was being hijacked.

I sincerely hope that Haggis succeeds in their endeavours.