I think Stern is smart to move towards less user serviceability and a shorter lifetime model for their games. Especially since it doesn't seem to affect their sales.

Edit: That being said, the best way for a game to stay in service is for the manufacturer to stay in business to offer replacement parts. Short of that, the pinball community is great and always seems to find a way to keep games running.

I think it's good to have a few enforced civil zones. Some threads remind me of sports fans from opposing teams engaging. Lots of trash talk from both sides from the more vocal fans that may have some basis in fact but is due more to the dislike of the other team.

I agree, I don't see trash talking going on in club threads, it's nice.

Usually just the same people who go into most of the opposing team's threads, other than club, to stir the pot with something negative to say, doesn't really matter what game or topic.