Old school collectors used to think I was crazy for buying stern NIBs for $4-4500 (LOTR, FGY, SM, etc...). So I think the thing that blows my mind the most since joining the hobby in 2006 is stern selling a $15k NIB....and they pulled it off! ...and they don't even have to finish it.

My 1st job at age 14 was working at a swim club in 1974. The owner was my next door neighbor. One of my duties was to clean the pinball machines in the game room and remove the coins. At $1.50 an hour the best benefit was playing for free. Most of the games were older Gottlieb's from the 60's with push up balls. He bought a High Hand which at that time was a new game. I was in love. Played it so much that the day I turned the score reels back to zero I was totally hooked. When solid state games appeared in the late 70's I was taken with Eight Ball and Playboy. Then I played Xenon when released. Loved that game. Years later I have owned many from that era. Newer games don't have as much appeal because of the complicated rule set. I've enjoyed TZ and many others over the years but hell I'm old.

The fact that people are paying these crazy prices. But seriously, I'm not impressed with much since I think pinball topped out with the late 90's Bally/Williams game. Started playing on EM's bought my first real pin in the 90's Owned many and played many.

Availability of spare and repro parts

The knowledge sharing that internet forums create sometimes blows my mind and has changed the hobby for me.