Quoted from CrazyLevi:Oy this is terrible advice, and unpopular indeed! Well not all of it. But I would never recommend starting with a project game, sounds brutal.
I always say start with something that works 100 percent and don't worry, it'll break soon enough, and you can deal with the issues one at a time and learn rather than brutalizing yourself by trying to get a basket case working.
But yeah, it's hard not to be disappointed when you enter the hobby by dropping $50,000 on brand new expensive games and then getting upset when they don't just "work" like your new TV does.
I have bought 1 machine out of the dozens that was TRULY 100% working. It’s not because the seller disclosed the problems, I typically would get there and see the dot or run diagnostics. My point is that most sellers I have seen are parting with a machine because they can’t fix them. Just my take over the past 25 years. Don’t get me wrong there are people selling truly 100% working machines, just very uncommon for me to see.