I agree with most of the OPs comments, yet the game is still great despite some issues I hope get cleared up in code eventually. I got mine in mid July and it's still the main machine everyone wants to play (even though I got 3 other games in between).
Initially the game seemed too frustrating for friends, so I got the center post mod and played with extra balls (this helped a ton). Eventually the game got too easy and dull, so away went the mid post, away went the extra balls, and up went the tilt sensitivity. Now the game is more fun than ever to play.