Does it actually say that the mode won't be available without the topper?

To me it doesn't really specify. Like previously mentioned the letters could easily be displayed on the monitor.

I'm not saying this isn't what everyone seems to think it is but maybe we should just wait until we actually
see how it works?

I didn't find it to be anything overly special. It does seem to be something LE owners point to as a big difference maker though.

It's interesting to see where people draw the line at what they consider gouging.

You see people criticizing others who buy this topper as an idiot, yet they just spent $8000 or $9000 on games that used to cost half as much.

The people buying the topper are no more to blame for the high prices than the people buying the games themselves.

Yes my point is 'reasonable' is to be determined by each individual buyer. Just because someone pays 'x' for something doesn't make them an idiot.

Tell your average non pinball person what you've spent on your collection, the average person thinks we're all idiots for spending what we do on these things.

Fair enough.

I'll just continue not caring what other people do with their money, feel free to express outrage and call people idiots for spending too much on a pinball topper of all things.