You have a bright future in currency arbitrage!

Ok, I'm going into this post being prepared to be ripped apart.. but I think the problem is that Stern actually has one too few models, not too many. Hear me out.

Everything Rarehero said above is true and logical, yet we still see people frustrated by (and complaining about) the difference between the Pro and the Premium versus what you get. Very often it seems like people really miss a few key features missing on the Pro like the color changing inserts and GI, the spinners, the service rails etc.

So what if Stern offered an upgraded Pro Plus (made up hypothetical title - but appropriate) type of model that would be say $500-$700 more than the current Pro and would have some of those non-mechanical features added? This would be a model where you would get the color changing inserts and GI, along with simple, non-playfield changing additions like spinners and traditional service rails. Things like drop targets, extra mechanical toys, diverters, etc. would still be left out so they could use the same Pro playfields.

I think a lot of people would be happy with that model, including the Operators. I could see operators upgrading to that model for the better light show and minor enhancements to gameplay that wouldn't come with a huge price tag or the impending future maintenance issues due to the extra mechs.

Of course the question would be whether they would gain more in upgrades from Pro to Pro Plus than what they would lose to those that would have bought Premiums instead? I think if the Pro models are really the bulk of their sales as many suggest then this might be a good option for Stern.

A few examples of what I mean, how many people would have paid have paid an extra $500-$700 for these upgrades:
-Metallica Pro with the color changing lights and spinners but without the hammer, snake mouth, and moving cross
-Star Trek Pro with the amazing light show but no moving ship or kickers
-TWD with the good GI and maybe the Woodbury spinner but not the extra toys and magnet

Obviously the model would fit some titles better than others but I think it could really work for some games. Like WWE and Mustang probably wouldn't warrant that model but the ones I mentioned above certainly would and maybe Kiss. Stern could offer this model on games it made sense to but not all.

Ok, commence the tarring and feathering..

This is all of course true. I just get the feeling that many people are put in a position where they want more than the Pro is offering but aren't comfortable upgrading to the Premium. The ~$1800 difference is about 40% of the Pro price so it is a significant upgrade. I think for some titles offering something in between might be an upgrade more buyers would be comfortable with.

Of course I absolutely agree as mentioned before, that the sales figures would have to support this. If Stern thinks that another model between the Pro and Premium would take away more sales of Premiums than what the upgrades from the Pro would warrant then it absolutely would not make sense. I just have to wonder if it wouldn't be the other way around on some tiltes where the Pros appear to be strong sellers in the home market.

Ok, so maybe I'm in the minority but that doesn't seem so bad for a pro translite to me. Its about what I would expect and seems reasonable. I'm sure it wouldn't bother me at all while playing on location anyway.

The right ramp and scoop/lane are swapped too, totally different! I kid.. The two are extremely similar, probably why I like them both, along with so many other games with fan layouts.. like GoT Pro is going to be.

I would guess right now that the Pro will be the overwhelmingly preferred model for competitive play. It will be interesting to see how the Premium/LE play differently but this style of play looks really good to me, and I think it will to a lot of tournament players also.

Won't it be ironic if the big feature difference that was supposed to upsell everyone to buy Premiums ends up leading everyone to stick with Pros instead?