Hi @calla76759, I recently got a 2001 - had been looking for one for a while as had one back in my 20's when I lived in the UK. I think it's a great machine, very addictive. Anyway thought I'd throw my 2c in:

1. The blue circles under the pop bumpers may just be painted Mylar. I've actually used that trick when a playfield is very worn underneath and I (like you) are wary of playfield touch-ups. If they lift of carefully you can see what things are like below. You can always replace with painted Mylar, its easy, spray paint works fine. If you want to remove them and they are stuck then inverted can of compressed air freezes them off - plenty of posts here on that trick.

2. My backbox was a mess too. I went the plywood replace route, just for the bottom section, but I had already decided to repaint the whole cabinet. Not sure another back box is the way for you, given you'd have to repaint that, and sounds like you don't have easy way to paint.Here's some before and after pics

IMG_6731 (resized).jpgIMG_6752 (resized).jpgIMG_6984 (resized).jpgIMG_6988 (resized).jpg

3. As I knew I was going to keep this machine, I splurged for the new door, coin plate, shooter surround, buttons, legs, bolts - I agree at least two new legs at front would look good - I think they are good value at PBR. By the way. the shooter rods clean up great by putting them into an electric drill and pushing into a scotch brite scouring pad.

4. Overall if you cannot paint the cabinet, then personally I would just clean up everything else as you say, and leave the cabinet - at least you can then say the cabinet is still original, something I feel I have lost with mine, even though I'm happy the way the paint job turned out - each to their own and all that.

Good luck!