Looking at the "Multiball Trap" used in Cosmic Cart Racing gave me a new idea:
Why not eliminate mechanical ball pushers like slingshots and pop bumpers and replace them with "rail gun" boosters?
Similar to the Star wars premium accelerator method?
Lose the plunger too, user must sequentially-actuate magnets to launch the ball. Getting to the top exit would be the skill shot.
Has this been done? You could do some cool parabola troughs where you are forced to get the ball out with magnet sequences.
If this idea gets used please forward all royalties to robin !