Let me start by saying that I am not a Star Trek fan at all. Nor a Star Wars fan. However, I am a fan of pinball. I also recognize that the TV show STTNG is an 19 Emmy award winning show, and one of the best TV shows of all time in my opinion. Still does not make me a fan of "Star Trek" per say.

So on to the STTNG pin... I should love it. I grew up playing it. I estimate that I have played it 300-400 times and this is likely on 15-20 different machines over the last 12 years years. I JUST CAN'T STAND THE GAME. The game tries to be funny and it's not. Video mode you can memorize. The play field is poorly designed with a lot of wasted space. Cannons rarely work properly. Right outlane is invisible. The gameplay is ok, but actually seems CLUNKIER (if that's a word) than IJ from the same time in pinball. I will say that the ramps are very well designed. I kept passing up STTNG machines for 2500 two and three at a time around 5 years ago. I know people are thinking, "why?". The reason is because the game is just not for me. Coming from someone that grew up watching STTNG on TV and realizing that it is an amazing show... I still can't stand STTNG as a pinball.

I DO like the new Stern Star Trek pinball. No idea about what movie it's based on... don't know, don't care. It is a great game.
Now that Star Trek Pro is generally cheaper than STTNG (no idea why), it makes buying a STPRO all the more apealing.

Also, I move all the games I own myself for the most part. I have one wide body and I am content with just one at the moment. Had an IJ, played it 2500 times and traded it years ago. They are heavy but I never complain about moving pins or arcades. NO EXCUSES. You can always pay someone to move your stuff for you... It's just part of the hobby.

So to elaborate on the OP's concerns, I understand exactly where you're at on STTNG. I would certainly play it at least 20 times to determine if you want to buy it. I would also suggest the same for anyone that is considering buying any pin at all. That is the single biggest reason why I think shows are the best place to shop for a pin. You may not buy one there, bit it is a fantastic place to play a bunch of games all in one day.

Winner winner chicken dinner!

Well, it certainly is to you. I implore the fact that there is no such thing as the single "best pinball machine ever created".

What is the single best painting ever created?
What is the single best movie ever created?
What is the single best hamburger ever created?

You see how what you are suggesting is a figment of your own imagination?

Still not the single best. There is no such thing. The creator of a thing only makes it possible, not the best. Best is a matter of opinion.

Again, does not exist. Best is a matter of opinion.

In what specific ways are you suggesting the games vid mentioned are inferior? In my humble opinion, they each have their good and bad quirks.

That is one bad example and one good example, in my opinion. I prefer to play the Stern Star Trek and I could care less about Star Trek in it's own right. Both games are great.

However, pointing out one of Stern's worst games in my opinion does nothing for this comparison. You might as well compare Stern IJ to Bally/Williams Harley-Davidson, Gilligan's Island, or Popeye if you want to be fair about "the worst"