This.

When I first got into pinball I had a really bad impression of sterns because the only ones I could play were on location and not in good shape. I thought it was stern but now know it was the OP.

I operate some pins now and I keep them in very good shape which takes a lot of work. As to what breaks who knows shit just happens you never know what or when and I continue to be surprised. When something breaks though and people keep beating on it things can go south fast.

One 'advantage' that BWs have is that the game has most likely been routed and dialled in already. It would be in a landfill if that had not happened by now.

Any new game has to get dialled in and you will find things on location fast that you will not find at home. If you just open up a game and throw it out there without checking up on it I guarantee problems will emerge and they tend to compound. But the sad truth is most people don't care and they will keep putting money in so some ops just leave them alone. They play bad but still earn so they don't care.

Stern isn't perfect but they have put out some awesome games. It sounds like they will be doing something about the ghosting inserts too which would really boost my confidence in them too. Now if we just had the distributor options that you do in the USA I would be really happy.