It wouldn't matter how many contacts anyone has, a product with no future will never get off the ground.
Market research would indicate over & over again that it would be an unwise investment to fund such a project, no matter whether it's in china or elsewhere.
If pinballs were ever made in China, it's only coz Stern is looking for a cheaper way to do it and create a larger margin for themselves, i dont see them dropping the retail price down for us.
This all should have been done 20 years ago, when it might of had a greater impact and slipped in before all the playstation, Xbox and Wii mentality took over the world.
The only reason pinball lives in our collections is because 'we' have a passion for it, past experiences, childhood memories etc, and when we go, they go.
Kids today might walk into your pinroom and say 'wow', maybe play a game, but like the chinese 'they dont get it' and walk back inside to jump on the COOL XBox and let Dad play with his stoopid clunky machines.
There will always be special interest & collectors groups and they always reduce in numbers as members move on.
Just like Vintage cars....people restore & drive them in clubs, but nobody manufatures them anymore to support the collector demand.
just my 20c
MM.
