Fun fact: Every time people use the word "animations" instead of "animation", it makes animators over 40 cry.

As for display animation, B/W and Stern had excellent animators working within the limitations of the DMD, due to one word: TIMING. Timing is what makes animation fun, pop, and leave a lasting memory. It's not about resolution or polygons or looking like AAA video games...it's timing. Take a look at what's going on with the animation of Metallica, AC/DC, Simpsons, Family Guy, MM, AFM, MB (or any B/W game, really)...from an animators standpoint, everything you see "plays"...even though the limitations are dots, you know exactly what you're looking at, and the timing is excellent & memorable. The comedy is sold...the action is sold..because the timing is tight and well animated. Timing is what's generally missing in today's pinball display animation. It's either even/floaty "flash" style, or weightless wonky 3D models. This is what makes modern pinball animation look dated: funky timing.

There's nothing wrong with saying that they're irrelevant as well, since every game is set up differently and plays totally different. A score on one machine is meaningless to a score on another machine.

The reality is, most people who love pinball love it because it's pinball. 99% of everyone else doesn't understand that it's more than flapping the flippers for 2 minutes. Apps, subscriptions, all this "normal modern gamer" stuff just isn't gonna move the needle in pinball at all.

Another plus for DMD was the aspect ratio. Wiiiiiiiiiide. Perfect to display a big ass million/billion point score. Perfect to display some text telling you about rules or bonuses. Easy to glance, read, and absorb. I know it was cheaper to just use stock 16:9 LCDs...but the wide DMD ratio is just perfect for pinball.