So even the COIN RETURN translucent plastic lights can change color (and I suppose be part of the attract mode lightshow)?!? Pretty cool.

And are the external volume controls only for the headphone jack, or general volume?

Will the headphone jack be easily removable? Jacks tend to be not the most robust and fail in every day components all the time. So I could see how, in the operator setting, they might have to get it repaired occassionally, or even opt to remove it altogether while on location (and hence need a secure means to seal up the gap by the vacated mechanism).

The home users, however, will love it.

Given all that has to be considered in terms of production, durability, and maintenance, considering what's going into it (jacks, volume controls, bill validator, multicolored LEDs), to do it PROPERLY, I could easily see it taking a year from design to build.

Good call! The most important part in solving one's problem is recognizing one has a problem .

We've all been there. Hope whatever happened with the preorder snafu gets some kind of adequate resolution.

But look at it this way: if you get some of the first WOZs, well, they'll have novelty going for them. Which is transient.

But if you get a later one, most of the production issues will have been resolved, and you'll have one that probably requires less service... Which lasts forever. Not the pin, but the improved durability,mind you.

The LEs and unlimited versions are the same, gameplaywise. Heck, lots of people even voiced a preference for the nongreen armor/wireforms.

So it's a win-win.

In any event, I hope it works out for you and the hobby gets another great pin to enjoy!

Make "volume panel controlling external speakers" enabled via MENU (if possible)! Default "No."

When you say you'll "just sit back and laugh as those fly in," are you referring to flung winged-monkey poo? Because I'm not sure that's the best course of action when stool projectiles are headed one's way.

Just sayin'.

Jim Henson was a genius.