You may be right, but if Stern and JJP are buying specialized parts like playfields without good purchase specifications then they really are amateurs. They've had major playfield issues, e.g. ghostbusters and WOZ, in the past and should have learned their lesson a long time ago. They may be stuck with the current external suppliers short-term, but Stern, and maybe JJP, certainly has the knowledge and resources to in-source production of the single most important/specialized part of the game going forward. Hopefully Jack and Gary are embarrassed/pissed about their business being undermined, and that Spooky and CGC are able to supply superior play fields.

Not really. It's saying that a visibility chipped playfield is very upsetting to many "collectors" who are a major part of the market for $10k(!) machines. And will likely hurt re-sale well beyond the value of an unpopulated playfield, especially one that will be in ready supply. How about offering some options like repopulating playfields for free if you pay shipping or bring to the factory. Micro is likely supplying replacement play fields at no-charge to JJP, so it's not unreasonable to expect JJP to provide the labor to repopulate.

Swinks is selling a few varieties of posts and washers based on this concept on his Shapeways store.