Given the next game(s) they have to buy to replace that stock will cost them more, that is not unusual retailer practice.

No doubt, but the real test will be if the end consumer accepts it.

I regularly sell restored machines in what is the premium (8k and above) range and the number of collectors in Australia who can come up with that amount of money in one hit on a semi-regular basis would fit on a standard A4 lined sheet of paper.

The basic stripped back Pro models are now breaching this price point for anyone who doesn't live in Sydney.

The home collector market is still a relatively new market for pinball, but instead of nurturing it and encouraging it to grow, they are squeezing their customer base too hard for the sake of short term gain.