With the demand and constraints on the stainless markets right now I can understand Stern not getting them delivered and installed until near production. None of the release livestreams showed one. That being said, if anyone says that pinball is easy and can design one without any flaws they probably claim to walk on water as well. in terms of the big picture of this machine as a whole, in the long run this will be resolved and history will show it as a minor issue.
That being said, the scoop is VERY narrow compared to previous scoops on Sterns. The wear on the edges is 100% from the ball entering and hitting the sides. Eject is smooth and forward, front edge shows no wear compared to the sides.
The one at our league location had the metal deformed pretty much after 5 games as the ball had trouble ejecting. Almost immediately wear started on the left edge. We've mylared all the edges on it for now until the fix arrives.
Having examined this up close, two flaws in my mind, and don't think they can address the first one easily:
1) Scoop is too narrow. Can't go back and enlarge the holes of the existing pins.
2) Left and right edges of the metal needs to be u-shaped, wrap around the wood, and fastened on top & bottom of the playfield. The metal Stern used is thick enough, it needs to not move once is place.
