Sunfox, I hadnt heard that one about a 2012/2013 machine looking like it was from 1992 before.
The only thing is, is if the movie was released in 2012 etc, it would be hard for people to confuse it with something made 20 yrs before ? 
The point isn't that people might think the machine was actually made 20 years ago, the point is technology has progressed and pinball hasn't kept up. You could give a tween the latest Bieber album on a cassette and it doesn't matter if the content is brand new, because the technology it's on is old.
No matter how much the average pinhead feels that their personal nostalgia trumps all, in an arcade it's the machine's job to attract paying customers. Attention-getting items like a big color LCD screen, bright multi-color LEDs flashing everywhere and a playfield packed solid with 3D toys, will do that better than a tiny monochrome DMD with worse resolution than a 15-year old cell phone, static colored lights, and a barren playfield. In a highly competitive environment, a good theme means nothing if people walk right by you to get to something else that managed to catch their attention first.
Sorry, as a player I can not keep my eye on the big color TV screen or the cell phone DMD for longer than 2 seconds. I'd rather keep my eyes on the balls.
Granted, most of Stern development team are ex Williams from the 90's and you can't teach old dogs new tricks. AC/DC is certainly doing something right out there without all the bells (well one) and whistles (well maybe Rosie). There is a pinball resurgence since 2010 which is based on home collector demand and not arcade paying customers. JJP has come in to ride that wave JIT but the resurgence was not created by JJP, he just came in at the right time and I am sure he will make the most of it and give the industry more life.
