Here is a list of the things that the Premium has over the Pro. I ranked the additional features on what I would value from an enjoyment factor and placed a dollar value on each as if I could buy each one as an upgrade... what might I pay.

1. VUK to wireform - $400
2. Motorized ramp and lighting effects - $300
3. Secret double-up post ball lock behind stand-ups - $300
4. Powder coated Apron - $150 Premium apron is WAY better looking IMO
5. Motorized clock/drum - $150
6. Ball lock post system - $100 - not really sure what value this adds to gameplay
7. Subway kicks out of both scoops instead of one - $100
8. Red, white and blue GI lighting (versus red and white only) - "meh" - depends on if there is code that takes advantage of 3 colors versus just a different colored LED.

So... $1,500 worth of additional features for the low, low cost of $2,100. For now, my order is still for a Pro. I'll be anxious to see the stream of game play to see if my opinion changes.

In the end, I have other hobbies. $2,100 can buy a lot of new gear for my home recording studio.

My dealer (Fun!) told me there is a first run of Pros for the operators. Then a run of LEs and another run of Pros available in February and then Premiums in April.

That is literally the point of this thread. $2k is a lot of money to me. I’ve got other wants and needs. I’ve been wanting a new synth for $1500. I’m going to get far more enjoy out of a new synth than the VUK and a ramp that rises up and down.

Rational and financially responsible people do this kind of thing. Idiots and poor people say things like “just go for it” or “you should always buy the best.”

It takes a while for the code to get to complete. KISS took a couple years to get all of the callouts. After watching the stream, the code looks pretty good at launch. I'm in on a Pro.

Where I would like see finishing touches would be in the Expression light shows. More synchronization to Rush's music please!

Welcome. I’m a huge Rush fan and been in the hobby 5 years. I doubt you’ll regret the Pro. Pros are alway fun and usually have less maintenance issues. 99% of the time, the rules are the same. For example, Borg’s KISS Premium has a physical 3 ball lock, while the KISS Pro has a virtual lock in software. It’s slightly cooler to see the multiball shoot out of the Demons head but it adds almost nothing to the game experience and it’s one less complex mech to break on the Pro.

Especially for a newer player, you’re going to be discovering new things to do for months or years to come. The rules look deep with a lot of things to do. There will be a bunch of cool mods for your Pro so you can really go crazy if that’s your thing.

If money is no object, by all means get the Premium.

One other point... you ARE going to want to buy the Expression Lighting accessory so make sure that you factor that into your budget. Also, it sounds like there is a lot of people waiting on their expression kit so you might want to get on the list now.

You are going to be absolutely giddy with the Pro. If for some reason you decide you want a Prem or LE in the future, you'll be able to sell your Pro get one. There will be people that are not Rush fans that bought one and, sooner or later, they'll sell their Rush to make room for the next, latest, greatest theme.

No, on my dealer's wait list.

I think the inverse is true... an awesome pinball machine might cause some non-fan pinballers to love Rush. There are a lot of people discovering Rush for the first time on Youtube.

Go look up "rush reactions" on youtube. For these reaction channels, Pink Floyd and Rush seem to be the two most popular "discoveries." So much fun to see these younger people's minds explode as they take in Rush ear candy for the first time. Here is one compilation of people discovering Rush! This will put a smile on your Rush-loving face!

Me too. It's fun watching someone discover music from the 70s and 80s or watch a classic, like "Airplane," for the first time.

Anyone checking out Rush Pro Stream. Watched a 13 year old kid blow up the machine with a ridiculous 25 minute ball 1. Crazy good player. After watching the stream, I feeling really good about going with the Pro. I don't think I'm missing much at all in buying the Pro over the Premium.

The one thing that made me have a twinge of regret was the deadend shot with no VUK and no wireform return. However, the dead-end shot on the Pro is pretty intense, the ball screams back to the right flipper in the blink of an eye.