I'm fixing up a Sinbad right now with a roached playfield because I can sell it cheap to maybe get someone new in the hobby. Methinks part of the problem might be is folks want to start with high end games. I started buying cheap and then might sell 2 games to buy a nicer game and then sell....etc...etc
I was shocked at how many games I've gone through when I added T2 to my profile last week.
With a little elbow grease and a lot of "keeping eyes open" I've garnered a nice little collection in 7 years. Slow and steady can still get, and keep, you in the hobby. And I truly believe the hobby isn't as bitter as online forums like Pinside make it seem, just like any media the whiners get more airplay. We all love to read a trainwreck.....