I find this thread interesting. I personally got into the hobby back in the mid 90's after college. My friends and I actually had a small pinball side business but that's another story. In my 20 plus years now messing around with pinball machines, I was fortunate enough to make a few buck on some machines and loosing on others. I haven't got a new Stern in a bit but if one comes out I like I'll still pick it up and if I ever sell I'm not going to loose sleep over it because I knew what I was getting into when I got it. I never expect to make money on them or treat them as an investment. For investments I'll put money into the stock market and other true avenues of investments. The OP has his own reasons and in his eyes it seems he is trying to minimize any loss and that's his decision, in my case if I enjoy the game or the family does I really don't care if I make a buck or loose a few should I ever decide to sell it, for me it is for the fun of playing them and watching family and friends enjoy them. Most hobbies are money drains but I'd like to think all hobbies are done for personal enjoyment, fun and to make memories. Just my 2 cents.