I have to go with Aurich on this one, Ramps are cheaper than drop targets. While the biggest cost is the tooling, once amortizing across the run of game, the cost per ramp, even fully loaded with parts, is lower than drop target banks. While ramps require other parts to be complete, drop Targets do as well (brackets/weldments, coils, switches, drop targets, springs, etc. and often posts and rubbers). They also require electronics/drivers and software development. When a game is pushing the limits of its BOM budget, the first thing that goes (after the Shaker motor) are drop targets, typically replaced with stand-ups -- even more frustrating is having them removed after already developing rules and coding the game to use them.

As far as Pulp Fiction -- as others have said, if you are not going to do it as an adult theme, then don't do it! If CGC is making this game, then I have to think they get that. The increase in pinball companies, certainly increase the likelihood of seeing some themes that Stern and JJP might shy away from.

Ramps are cheaper, so certainly give more bang for the buck. Even if cost the same, a lot of players, who focus on flow, don't appreciate drops in the way there were appreciated back in the 70s and 80s. Look at Hobbit, a huge number of drops, all individually controllable -- incredibly cost, but the cost is all under the playfield, where players don't see it, and don't appreciate it as much as some cool curvy ramps.

I am a big drop target guy, I have three or four games in my collection that are drop target oriented, of course those are 70s and 80s games. Something about a physical state vs a lighted state feels better.