since the current market is dominated by collectors and enthusiasts, it seems that creating a wider appeal to operators is the route to take if you want to grow the market.

stern is the driving force behind pinballs survival, they were around when it was big, when it fell, and even now. therefore im inclined to believe they have a better idea of which direction the market needs to take to expand, rather than the opinion of collectors who have really hindered the market by steering it mostly towards their own interests, and have kept pinball machines out of the public eye.

i personally dont care if the pinball industry grows a billion dollars next year if that means all the machines are designed to stay in the home of individual collectors. id rather see growth in public interest than growth in $$$. i prefer to play machines on route anyway as i somehow feel that is the essence of pinball. could be just me though!

in my opinion, every machine kept in a house is a missed opportunity to expose the general public to the world of pinball.

its not about seeing thousands of machines everywhere, its about that every machine has potential to be the one that turns someone into a pinhead. if all people ever do is look to how great the past was, we might miss what it could be. the pinball industry should take baby steps to ensure growth rather than think its only options are where it is now (just above dead) or where it was then (massively popular).