I don't play pinball competitively, so I don't have an appreciation for high scoring as some of the pin zealots here. I'm happy to just explore a pin's depth and entertainment capabilities and see what I can make it do. But this thread got me thinking and here's my 2 cents on scoring...
I hope some day a more sophisticated scoring system is developed in a pin where your score simply isn't cumulative. Why can't we have pins coded to reduce your score when you fail a completion shot, or something along the lines of a punishment system where points are taken away from you when your flailing?
Imagine the possibility of tactically defending against a finished game where your awarded a final score actually on the negative side because you had such an awful game. ...and when this happens your awarded a pity (extra) ball so you could last chance redeem yourself and end up finishing with a decent score after earning a few extra balls and reaching your personal supreme chancellor best!
I know. Pinball has always been played a certain way. But someday, some brilliant someone, should step outside convention and revolutionize the status quo and code pinball scoring with a little innovation and perhaps move it forward into something, ...more.
Imagine the ups and downs playing with your buddies on location in a 4 player game. I just think it would be crazy fun.