Fancy Pants Checklist:

Use nicer wood for the cabinet.

Customized apron that can lightup in sync with the game.

Powder coat or chrome everything - the habitrails, coinbox, bolts, screws, mechanisms, ball rails. Have options for chrome, black, brass, or a "quantum haze" color.

A topper with an led stock ticker thingy that interacts with the phone app and lets you post customized messages. Could also show scores and game info during gameplay.

Clear coat or plus in someway the in-game toys like the drones, robot lady, subway station.

Fiber optic light show on the backglass, coindoor, cabinet, or anywhere it might look awesome.

That sounds like $2k or more in extra shit.

But there needs to be something really special besides just rarity for JJP to sell more than a just a few of these. Has to look gorgeous but also have a feature or two unique to the code or game play.

Based on Jack's recent comments from Florida the CE will include "experiential items" which would be things like a phone call with Pat Lawlor or a trip to the JJP factory. No specific experiences were announced though.

I don't think they're going to be cramming $3500 worth of additional bling into the machine.

People like feeling special and unique and these experiences can offer that for a pinball nerd. It doesn't hurt the buyers of a standard edition so I don't see any fairness or other issues. If a few people think a Lawlor lunch is worth $3500 than great for them. If it makes JJP more money and gets more exposure than that's cool too.

I think these Dialed-In CEs will be very rare (under 100 made, or less) and the owners will almost never sell. The LE is the version to buy if you want powder coating and a little more bling. Standard is thankfully missing no features and I think that points to JJP doing these money grab versions properly. The way Stern is doing it by removing loads of game features doesn't sit well with me.

I'm just paraphrasing what Jack himself said on video this week. I don't think he was punking us. If you want the most loaded version I think it's gonna be the LE. The CE might got a touch more bling or a plaque or something but I wouldn't hold my breath for much more.

People with lots of money also tend to be people who pinch pennies.

Seems like it's an opportunity for someone to setup shop selling wooden apron mods.

Anyone know if JJP will sell the toppers to non-CE owners?