IJ is a cool game that I wouldn't mind owning for a while, or doing a temp swap for or something. My Metallica LE is bolted to the floor, it's one of my favorite games. For me it's no contest, as cool at IJ is.

Pretty sure he means how Metallica stole AFM's inline drops.

And I think it's one of the best games Stern has ever made. To each their own! I love games from all eras, just look at my collection. I don't consider Williams/Bally games somehow magically better. They have a lot going for them, but the rules were a lot simpler back then. I personally enjoy 1980/81 Bally games a ton, hoping to pick up two more shortly, so everything I own doesn't have to be "deep". But it's fun to have a game that has a sophisticated rule set, like Metallica. Helps that I like the band though for sure.

Yes, it's a "fan layout with a shot up the middle".

I'm cool with being critical about too many games being like that, but I happen to like this one a lot. It plays nothing like AFM. It's really just a ridiculous comparison.

Like what you like, who cares what others collect?

I have friends who really appreciate my 1980 Ballys. Some think they're boring. Either way I buy them for me, not them, though they're welcome to play any time.

Sounds like you like games, and not brands. That is totally crazy.