I hear your pain, while updates of the road to production / production started / production hiccups / production hiccups overcome / loading onto truck would be really appreciated and good for them as a company IMHO; its not even 1/3 of Q2 yet so theres time.
If DP is gun shy after Phil meltdown fine, but can go look at the heighway thread of how being totally transparent can be done and doesn't blow up in your face. He's opening talking about delays due to QC on some parts and is getting praise for it. Imagine this (and spooky) is going to set the new standard for startups going forward after the two most secretive startups are/have imploded. Stern can be silent cause they are proven.. And no pre orders.
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/heighway-pinball-official-pinside-thread
Anyways they seem to be technically sound, so I have little doubt's about the product.. Just had the expectation we'd enter Q2 with production porn.. Which still should come eventually.
And yeah like inhomearcades said, you can email barry and he does respond. Seems like more work for him; I try to keep bugging him down to once every few weeks.