The few that went out on location didn't hold up well. Mechanically, it very much is a TZ in a skinny cab. Lots of potential problem areas. Also, the vari target was poorly designed. Way too many rejects. Plus, even when it was working, the factory flippers weren't nearly strong enough.

Upgrade the flipper coils and add a lane guide to the vari target (google is your friend) and the game is awesome.

I set my bonus multiplier to carryover, so I always go for the upper lanes when I launch. 9 out of 10 times, on my first ball of my first warmup game, I'll daydream while the ball is in the pops, it will dribble down and bounce off something above the upper scoop and go straight down that right outlane. Happens way too often and I always feel like an idiot when it happens. It does tend to make me focus faster though. It is the worst outlane in pinball. Even in competition, you'll rarely see that one opened all the way up. If I saw that post was removed for a tournament, I probably wouldn't play it.

Yes, the upper lanes, then pops. It depends on pitch too, but the right side lane guide at the top of the shooter lane is adjustable. Set your pitch where you want it, then adjust that guide. There's a nut under the playfield. No matter how much you adjust it, a full pull rarely works. You want it to work with ~2/3 of a pull. Set bonus carryover to yes in feature settings when you get it right.

They should auto plunge from the lock lane, not the shooter lane. Sounds like your diverter isn't working. You can test it in diags under coil test. Scroll to that coil, hit the enter button, close coin door and hit the start button. Diverter should come down. Or, you can light lock by hitting the shrunken head a few times, then lock balls in the lock lane by shooting the right ramp. If lock is lit and the ball returns to the right flipper, your diverter isn't working.

edit: Could also be your lock switches, which you can easily test in switch test, or your auto plunge coil, which can also be tested in coil test. Probably diverter, then check switches, then auto plunge coil.

There is no recommended lane guide to use. You need to find a straight one with at least one tab to attach it to the playfield, like the one linked below (not straight, but has the tabs to attach to playfield).

http://www.marcospecialties.com/pinball-parts/01-10696

Cut to size so that it fits on the left side of the vari target. Should be slightly behind the left post in front, but stick out enough in back to push balls into the hole (not much). Use either existing outside lane guide screws or a new wood screw in front to attach. I used one new screw in front and double sided foam tape in back. sk8ball used existing screws. How you cut your lane guide will determine how you mount it. Measure three times, cut once.

Lower flippers get the Pinball Life 'special' LOTR coils. Upper flipper gets upgraded to at least a WMS 11630 (high power side only). The white post rubbers to the right of the lower scoop and right of the right ramp won't last with the flipper upgrades. Replace them with black post rubbers.