The heads are hand painted by many different people so how would anyone seriously think every head paint job is going to be perfect. ?
Any car or jetski or any mass produced engineered mechanical device "first" off the production line may have small faults cause as humans we don't get every single thing right the first time.
That's why I have never bought the absolute first shipment of any new Ford, Holden or Toyota for my company vehicles. I let the production line "settle" , work itself out then buy a short or medium time later when the wrinkles have been ironed out.
If you rush in and order a pinball title sight unseen and insist on the very limited LE then you have to accept humans are getting used to the new product, new production line and methods and brand new product.
No company incl Stern can be expected to get it perfect first time every time whether you pay $1, $8,000 or $12,000.
That's why all engineering companies who produce production line products in any industry ask and want customer feedback and that's what helps any company to get it perfect.
If anyone thinks every pinball machine from JJP, Stern or the other companies are going to produce a perfect machine the very first time on a brand new title, they are not being realistic.
No company in the history of pinball ever has.
Every machine is unique. These machines are both hand built and mass produced.
They are NOT flawless diamonds coming out of a jewellery shop and never will be.
Two simple decisions people can make who ARE buying a new pinball title from ANY pinball manufacturer.
1. Wait for the production line to settle and then order.
2. Buy straight away but expect there MAY be a small flaw or imperfection on something built by humans and machines.
Even "restored" 70,s or 80,s or 90,s pinballs from any company in Australia or the USA aren,t going to be perfect and without the uniqueness that every pinball machine comes with.
If u only focus on the 5 percent u don't like on a pinball instead of the 95 percent u do like on a pinball, u are going to drive yourself nuts and everyone else perhaps.
Focus on the positive and not the negative qualities of a pinball machine.
Why, because there has never been a perfect pinball machine and there never will be.
The companies building pins have warranty for a reason.
Every product has a warranty for a reason.
Perfection in this industry and hobby is not realistic.
No one is making anyone have to purchase anything, straight away or after a production line settles.
People should wait for their machines to arrive before declaring doom n gloom.
I see a lot of assumptions and too much focus on the 5 percent and not the 95 percent.
If it ain't perfect to u when it arrives, return it and get a full refund or do a fix with a warranty claim.
Very simple decisions here IF u ain't happy after delivery of any pinball or any product.
Food for thought IMHO. ..........
