Quoted from snaroff:

Innovation? Most of the mechs used have been around for decades. LCD's are fairly new to pinball, and they rarely have problems.
Sterns reliable? The new Spike-based machines are less reliable...cheap boards and power supplies.
The problem with NIB Stern games is they are trying to squeeze too much into a short period of time (in terms of both R&D and manufacturing). Iron Maiden is a great example. The Premium/LE has lot's of problems with the added goodies. Pro is much more solid. So, you get to spend an extra 2k and have more headaches...make sense?
Back in 2004, the SAM-based machines were much more reliable. My LOTR is just crazy reliable and it's been in the wild briefly (shows, arcades). Back in those days, the Stern designers weren't forced to build 2 games (Pro, Premium/LE). Added models/features and shorten the time-to-market and the result is bugs.
I'm pretty shocked the op claims 0 problems with his Stern games. Impressive. It's a crap shoot, that's for sure.
snaroff

Quoted from Bigbossfan:

I have bought several NIBs, Sterns, MMR and one JJP NIB, DI. I have never experienced issues with a new pin as I have with DI (including damaged decals, trap door, split cab, failed power supply, messed up harness which took close to a month to trouble shoot with JJP amongst other minor issues). Has everything been perfect with the Sterns, by no means, but nothing to the scale of DI.
Having said this, I tip my hat to Frank at JJP who has been great in helping me with any issues I came across. Needless to say, very frustrating when after exchange, taxes etc my DILE cost me close to 13K Canadian and then having to deal with issues which in my opinion were not acceptable. Then the nail in the coffin was having to pay out of my pocket to ship back a crapped out power supply for a pin that was approximately 8 months old.
As much as I'd like a POTC, I vowed never to buy JJP NIB again and won't. Eventually they'll show up on the used marked.

Quoted from jasonpaulbauer:

Hmmm this supports what I've seen at shows. Seems the vendor booths with JJP games "always" have at least one machine that isn't working correctly.
Yes I am generalizing , but that has been my observations and my first hesitation to ever buy a JJP of my own.