Anybody who "buys in" deserves to be publicly called out, shamed, and humiliated. The first thing I do on any game I get in is turn that feature off, on the grounds that it is stupid.

That being said, I have a hard time believing this story as I don't see lines to play pinball machines. Maybe it was some kind of a fevered dream?

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.

THey left this "feature" on at Pintastic on the tournament game on free play. People kept accidentally buying in extra balls because they were trying to "cheat" bonus on last ball.

Kind of sums up the stupidity of buy-ins for me.