I would have a little different approach. Agree with going solid state but I would look for something close to you in your price range and not Necessarily a particular pin. I had played for years before owning and I bought my first game out of the newspaper classified. It was a pin that I had never heard of or seen but it looked cool and had multiball and ramps, etc. My budget was $1000 and the buyer wanted $800 and took $400 when we determined it had several issues. Played it, worked on it, improved it for > 5 year before buying a second pin. Then things accelerated (now have 10) and after I had multiple more desirable pins I sold it for $1300. (Laser War).
So whatever you buy first it will be fun and get plenty of play because it will be your first one. Can’t really go wrong with anything. And if it’s not perfect or has some issues then it sets you up to learn. And the learning/trouble shooting/repairing etc for many actually becomes the more rewarding part of the hobby.