Sorry for your loss. Don't think a downvote was necessary , but oh well. I'll take high road and not do the same to you. Like I said, just my opinion. I wont go into details about seeing and playing them that day at auction. I really don't think any EM is worth more than $1k, just don't. Value and bang for your buck can yield 2-3 nice DMD's at this price for 5. Or one A-list game.
Brings me back to original question, who and why does any dealer flipper feel an Em is worth this much?
Just because one Dealer sells at a high price doesn't mean that sets the bar that high. I'm sure we all have had one or 2 pins go for way more than we thought we would get. Doesn't mean that's the benchmark from now on a that title. Nice CQ Earthshaker recently sold for $3600, doesn't mean all Earthshakers are now that much, even with new decals, display, ramps and plastics, led lighting and of course, "Was stripped to field and every part cleaned". Still an Earthshaker value $2800.
Restored or not, just an EM,and I'm a huge fan of them. They all have there unique qualities and everyone should have one in there collection. Personally I'v had 8 now over the years. Enjoyed the hell out of them. Regret selling a couple, want my 2001 back. Worked my ass off on them, fixing switches and cleaning, rubbers and lighting. never felt the need to charge double what I paid, maybe made $50 on all of them. I was just happy to bring a pin back to life and sell to a first time pin buyer or someone happy to find a title they had been looking for. I'm not in the business of making money off of selling pinballs. I'll leave that to the guys that pick them up on craigslist, drive them cross town and add $1000 bucks to purchase price next week.