I remember going to the local auction and being one of only 2-3 home buyers there, and everyone else was an operator - they thought I was crazy to buy that "dud" TZ for $800 because it didn't earn shit on location.

So I see people talking about how they should make cheap games, but they don't remember Breakshot? Or Jackbot? The manufacturers tried making cheap games and they don't sell any better than the expensive ones.

There's a reason there's no small cheap car makers but a ton of small exotic car makers - margin. There is way more margin on expensive games and they're easier to sell.

I have to say, pinball is more popular now than it was when I started in the mid 90's and it seems that it is definitely going to continue to rise, at least in the player department. As for home collectors, for everyone that has a WOZ, there's ten with some 70's or 80's game. I wouldn't worry about them running out of raw material.