Probably won’t be a popular opinion, but if regulations are becoming so onerous that quality MUST be compromised to satisfy them (not convinced this is true), why not explore outsourcing to a locale where the climate is a bit less overbearing and things like heavy-metal salts, VOCs, and organohalogens can be used as needed to “make ‘em like they used to”?

Also, given that we have been using wood since the days when pinball machines were literally built with pins but may not be able to continue doing so using proven processes/materials, it does seem like a good idea to explore “better living through chemistry” at this point.