I think you do run across playfields that are beyond restoration, or at least a restoration is effectively creating a new playfield. In those cases, a reproduction just seems like the right move. My original BoP was so destroyed that it would be an obscene repair, so I got a marvelous repro and it works beautifully. I have a CPR TOTAN repro in my TOTAN, and honestly, comparing to the original, you'll be hard pressed to notice the difference. I have never had a Mirco but I've heard good things.

One thing to bear in mind is that the original process, while great, was often flawed. I've seen original 90's era playfields with their registration off or other issues. Sometimes a repro is better than the original.

Not all repros put the same level of effort into clearcoating, though. YMMV.