"Pinball holy grails are like potato chips, once you find one, you want another."

The excitement is in the quest adventure journey, not the destination or direct item in question.

Profit is not a goal of a long term pinball collector, only the short term enthusiast who once bored, moves on into other hobbies. Profit is inconsequential, as this is a pure selfish motive. Those with experience, learn to spot these type of individuals and avoid relationships, as they are destructive to the market, industry, and hobby in general.

Being first to properly secure deals has not changed much in the history of this hobby, the thing that has changed is the willingness of the buyer to HONOR the first buyer who secures first deal when the above type of person attempts to lure the sale away at the same asking price of the game.