Doesn't the argument about getting your money back when selling only work if you never keep any machines? Say you have 3 and cycle them in and out regularly. You still have the cost of 3 machines put in, unless you sell them all.

I still put value on playing the machine, though. If you sell one at a loss after having seceral years of fun with it, wasnt the fun worth something? Same with a console but on a smaller monetary scale. I love pinball but console gaming is much cheaper. That said, if I was purely looking for the most hours of entertainment per dollar, all I'd ever do is read books from the library.