I agree with you here Gav, they can do better.
I think it all gets down to having a limited time to get things designed, produced, instock and then assembled.
Stern has to be careful not to become like JJP and run well n truly over on its production schedule by being a bit too perfect on some of this smaller print stuff. Alot of people focus on the translite, cabinet art and playfield artwork, and give some of the plastics a miss etc, but I agree, a bit more time and effort, and things could be a little bit clearer.
I am dying to see what John Borg and Steve Ritchie have cooking for 2013.
I am hoping their next titles are just as good as the AC/DC and X Men titles which were awesome.