Quoted from CrazyLevi:I think they turn them off because they are pointless. Your average GP customer isn't going to understand them or use them. Your skilled player isn't going to bother. And the person in between who wants an extra ball isn't gonna be able to shove 3 quarters in the game within the 10 seconds you are allowed anyway.
The "buy-in model" was designed for video games that were virtually impossible to succeed at without the extra money - people paid up. Pinball, it just doesn't work.
I have to disagree. Back in the early 90's when we first got into pinball, we would use the buy in button from time to time if we were close to making something good happen. Back then it was .50 a play and 3 for a dollar, but it wasn't hard to figure out, since the screen tells you, for a credit you can continue your game. we were newbies back then and knew what it did. Also had enough time to pull it off.