Call around some other distributors to get the best price on a new in box. Automated in CT, Cointaker, there are lots. Sounds like the local dealer is price gouging. It might be tough calling a pinball machine a memorial. I've had lots of "I'll never sell this" games over the last 14 years, and I've sold them all. Maybe frame the invoice from the first game as a memorial that got the hobby started. Chances are pretty good you will eventually want to add another game (or 10) or at least rotate the games every so often.

MMR is an amazing game and one of my all time favorites. That being said, it got old fairly quick in a home environment. It was my Grail pin since I was a teenager and I sold it relatively quickly. There are some great games in the $4k range, Stern Spiderman or Star Trek Pro. Both amazing games with money leftover for maybe a System 11 Williams. I'd prefer 2 or 3 games for variety over one high end game.