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Here's one out-of-the-box suggestion:
Consider a virtual cabinet.
Ive seen them sold for around $2K. For this, you could get a sense of 100's of games that are out there, and if one floats your boat, you can try adding it down the line.
And especially if you have limited space- this MIGHT be an option to consider. I know if i could ONLY have 2 machines, a virtual cab would be one of them. If I could only have 1? Harder to say...
Quoted from loppydog:I have considered a virtual pin. I built my arcade cab from scratch, so I would not have too much trouble building a pin from scratch as well. I just do not think virtual pin is my cup of tea. I would love to attend a show or something, but I really hate to travel If I could find one in Oregon, I think I would go check it out.
I have looked at the top rated pins and LOTR, Simpsons Pinball Party, Pirates, Shrek, and Ripleys sound like they would be fun to play. But I have never actually played any of them.
No worries- Virtual Cabs arent for everyone... and they dont replace pinball 
But here's an alternate thought:
You said you havent played many of the games and travelling to shows isnt easy either.
So, download Visual Pinball to your computer and download a few of the tables mentioned.... its all FREE! Load it on your biggest monitor and bang away.
It will, at the very least, give you an interactive idea of the various games.... Id say the next best thing if you cant go play them all first.
I love using it to experience games I just cant find or play easily (CC for example), but also playing some has convinced me that Id like to own the machine (ie TSPP). So Im also using it to pre-scout future purchases as well...
Quoted from The_Director:Wow, lowepg, weren't you at one pin just a few weeks ago? Coming back with a vengeance!
A little more than 1, but close...
I swear I thought I could get back into the hobby slowly... 
As rationalization:
I thought I was going to OWE big tax money this year (as I usually do), however I changed division within my company mid year in 2012. I didnt realize it was a different FEIN and they restarted my FICA, so I ended up unwittingly paying doubvle FICA- which I was able to get all back at tax time....ok- thats probably really boring tax talk- restated: instant pinball buying funds.
I also choose to liquidate some items from my other hobby/obsession, gun collecting. THAT market is at an insane price run-up and I felt it was a good time to cash in a few items...
Note: I also explained to my wife I was only buying back a fraction of my old collection... as if that was going to be a savings
Unfortunately, I don't think ill ever be able to replace games like MB and SS... so thats why I also invested in a Virtual cab from VirtuaPin.
Quoted from spfxted:I was showing a film at a convention there a few years ago and the guy who runs the con has a couple of comic stores. He had some nice machines there including a beautiful MB. I asked if the owner would sell it for $6k, he said probably...but asked me not to make the offer because he wanted it. Grrrr
So.... you made the offer, right? 
Wow- you nearly doubled your budget from the OP!
Quoted from loppydog:knowing I could sell it easier if I don't like it is pretty nice.
If you really like Shrek- get it.... but IMO, don't buy it just because it looks like a decent investment. Pinball machines are heavy and make poor "currency"
The other issue is if you're spending $3500 (vs your original $2K budget), you've opened a whole new world of possibilities. For that kind of money, several of the B/W classics are well within your price range (some of my favorites). And, you are getting precariously close to being able to buy a TSPP, which in my mind is a 1000% better pin.
Regardless, make you you like it... - especially if its your first and you'll be playing it for a while.
Quoted from loppydog:TSPP is actually one I think I would like, and if you think its THAT much better , I will probably hold out a while. I still wouldn't mind keeping it under $2000, but for the right machine/deal, I could go up higher. But I think my wife has cut me off at $3000 So I would probably only be able to offer $3000 even for the Shrek.
You can still get a lot of pinball for $3k! (though probably not Shrek or TSPP).
Any of these grab ya?
NGG
FH
FT
RFM
RS
WW
EATPM
TS
BSD
CFTBL? (might be a stretch)
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Cary, NC