I wasn't there at the beginning, but wasn't the original purpose of the show to revive interest in pinball and other old games? If so, the goal has been achieved.

I'd be happy to participate in smaller, narrower-band gatherings in smaller venues. Before the big crunch, we were discussing home playing parties. Couldn't those work with limited attendance and so forth?

Seattle's Second Use store has a Chicago Coin "Astronaut" with 42,000 plays or so, for $950. Saturday is supposed to be a 20% off sale.

https://www.seconduse.com/inventory/items/882055-S/chicago-coin-astronaut-pinball-machine/

It's nice in some ways and needs help in others, but it's a far piece from the $4k EM's at the auction!

You describe the yin and the yang of EMs - they have really neat art and are not always fun to play. For me, a "pointy people" lover, this Astronaut is something I'd love to have if I had lots of space. But, like wamonkey, I don't.

Still, you have to laugh - we've all been griping about the Banning auction's extremely high sale prices. Here's a decent game sitting in our laps at 1/5 the price, and we're still griping....