PINSANITY,
Alot of the things you have said I agree with. You know this industry very well, as do I.  Whether its a older machine B/W, or a ACDC or perhaps the new Avengers Pinball that may be coming out, it doesnt matter what machine is selling, as long as they are selling. Thats what keeps this pinball industry/hobby pumping along and healthy. We all have diverse tastes and diverse collections, and thats what makes this a really interesting hobby.
I am not saying anything u are saying is wrong, not at all, I am just looking at some things from a different angle thats all. We are both correct ofcourse, or both wrong.lol but having differing views makes this place interesting.lol

I used to be on the fence about Stern, but after playing the Transformers Pro, then playing a Tron, then playing a ACDC Pro, I jumped off the fence and became a proud supporter of Stern. Had u have told me that a year ago i would have said no way hosay.

*I have been lucky enough to send and recieve some emails backwards and forwards to Steve Ritchie/Lyman Sheats and a few other Stern heavy hitters, and the energy and the positivity coming out of Stern is exciting to me. Probably to alot of other Stern customers as well.

One day in the next 12 or 24 months I might seriously look into a AFM or a Bally/Williams that u have mentioned, a B/W that i havent got, but I think I would rather buy a BNIB Stern IF its up to scratch for the 6 grand. I am just hoping the new Stern models kick ass, if they dont I will be dissapointed.
It would be a shame for Stern to make up all this new ground, and to lose it at the last second with a new mediocre offering. The next few titles Stern offers MUST be friggin great to keep the collectors happy.  Hopefully, there is alot of people sitting on the edge of their seats to see the new titles, hopefully Avengers.