Hey man, if you wanna collect boxes to look at I'll be happy sell you my bond LE box for 10k after I take the machine out of it, and you can enjoy your investment.

Don't be surprised when people who enjoy a hobby that is an activity they share with each other call you out on being a boring guy who just wants to say he has some things, stare at a box, and drive up prices on a hobby they enjoy I'm the name of an "investment." There's nothing wrong with trying to be smart and minimize losses, or angle for a little return in the long run - but if you're willing to stare at a box for a year to "max your investment," you aren't into pinball, you're into money. If you're suprised people call you out on screwing with the hobby they enjoy because you can't find a better place to put your money, you should have seen it coming. Have a tissue.

It sounds, though, like your actual question may have been "is an LE worth more with, or without, mods?" That's not an unreasonable question, but the question you asked was "will I get more for this LE of I don't open it, or if I take it out and mod it." You should clearly see the difference if that's the case, and why people would find the later question obnoxious.

The better answer to the first question though, is to improve the question again: how much value do YOU get out of modding your pins? I mod my stuff for me, and look at it as spent money, and always offer to take whatever back to stock if someone prefers when selling/trading later. Enjoy that wall color you like, but plan to paint the house beige when you move down the road.

Or, auction off this thread

This. I spend money on all sorts of dumb shit to have a good time. I do not expect a return on dinner out, not do I on mods. That's spent money I did for my entertainment.

That said, mods can absolutely improve a game and increase value to many folks. GZ is a great example of this - there are several mods I simply can't imagine anyone not wanting once they see them installed. I wired a Funko Zilla with lighted blue fle breath, and that is NOT gonna be for everyone. However, Mezels buildings 100% improve the look of the game, and I can't imagine anyone saying otherwise. You could debate the cost - I did, but once I got them and saw them, I was totally cool with the 300+ I spent on the lot. Prolly wouldn't expect it to increase the value that much, but it damn well should increase it a couple hundred. Likewise, the lighted Tesla towers are a really lovely addition in action, and I can't imagine anyone not preferring them once you see them going. The flaming speakers are just badass too...I suppose someone might not like them? Maybe my grandmother? She was pretty cool though, so prolly her too...

Shoving random toys, or putting on a specific powder coat - that's gonna be for you only though.

To each their own, but have you seen them actually on a game? Lighting really makes them IMO. And yeah, I get not everything is for everyone...but I guess I find the original plastics so uninspired that I have a hard time imagining preferring them. I mostly ordered them because I disliked the backboard, was surprised by how much I liked them installed and lit.

At any rate, like I said - I always assume mods are for me and are sunk cost, and keep all the stuff to take it back to stock if someone prefers.

I mean, if you already know you aren't a huge fan, and you can play your buddy's to boot, I'd just try to get a few hundred for your deposit and walk...