Quoted from RetroGamerJP:I would have to respectfully disagree with that statement...
I think they are a smart investment if you prefer your games to stay like new and especially in the case of TMNT (you can definitely tell the clear coat on this one is thinner then previous games)... I know the people I have sold my games to appreciate the fact that if for any reason they decide to take the protector off, they have a brand new playfield waiting for them underneath.
The majority of the people cannot tell the difference between playing on a brand new, bare playfield and one with a protector on it (if there is even a difference)... but after thousands of games, it will still look and play like new.
So sure, they may not be for everyone but I don't think they deserve the title of worst thing that has happened to the hobby. No reason to try scare away those who want to preserve there machines. I for one am glad the option is out there.
Funny thing is, I took off a playfield protector from Dialed In that was installed from the factory, and it still had some pretty heavy amount of dimpling on it. It also played, in my opinion, terribly. To top it off, it was a hazy scratched mess, and this was only with a couple hundred plays. I couldn't rip it off fast enough.