Being local and friends with Barry I paid Barry a personal visit this week, shared a meal and had a lengthy discussion with him on this topic.
What I can share is my true feeling that DP is in the right and ARA in the wrong. Have got a lot of inside details supporting my opinion that ARA has been changing the rules during the game against contract and normal business ethics. So DP is now caught in this bad situation which is not easily solved and certainly not overnight.
What I also saw was a person who is, with Jaap, working hard to find a solution for this bad situation. This will need time however. This is also the reason for lack of news. There is just nothing new to report besides the info which has been shared already (eg. another CM, researching legal ways against ARA). You can imagine that both options need time and posting on public forums is not always the best for the case. You cant expect them to disclose all details in public. This would not be wise.
As I mentioned earlier, both Jaap & Barry are true pinball lovers who want to make this happen. Yes, we do have our hard-earned money on the line but not only they have also personal money on the line, it is also their dream who is at stake. This combo is what they are fighting for and hard. Am I 100% sure it will all end well? No, this would be not realistic. But, I am 100% confident DP is trying their best to overcome the bad situation caused by ARA and they have a good shot. The Dutch CM they are talking to is a local well-known name with a good rep, deep pockets and much bigger as ARA. If they take on this case they have the capacity to act quickly, Not only TBL design is ready ofcourse but also design pin 2 is finalized. The lawyer they have is very confident on this case but legal ways cost time and capital.
What's the above worth? For me everything and for you perhaps nothing as it are 'just' words but I wanted to share it anyway. Jaap is going to TPF so approach him there and I hope you will get the same feeling as I have.
Regards from a fellow Dutch dude