To my knowledge

Star Trek Bally 1979 (Spok n Kirk theme) 16,842 machines SOLD

Anything Bally produced in this era was a successful machine. This version is the best of the three.

Star Trek is like KISS (Band) it has a fanbase that spans 30 plus years....and most would be both young and older fans, of all ages.
Who doesnt like a good Sci-Fi Space theme...always sold very well in the past.

Apples for Apples - I don't think Star Trek and KISS can be compared. A Star Trek Collector would buy the 2013 Version IF they had the money and IF they have the space. If the collector already owns the other two, then that's a lot of room taken up already. If stern produce the KISS remake - it will not appeal to pinball fans. 9/10 pinheads won't buy it. But KISS fans will. This makes up for the 9/10 pinheads that won't buy it. There are far more KISS fans than pinball fans - this is the key here.

I get asked about the Bally KISS at least once a fortnight. I've been asked for one Star Trek in the last 10 years. So it hard to compare demand if this is an indication.

I'm sure that when Stern missed "The Hobbit", their plan "B" was a remake of a remake. Clutching at straws, I think. There are so many good themes - "The Walking Dead", "Futurama", "Toy Story", "Metallica" - these are all GREAT themes. There's so much out there..

I hope this is just a rumor and that Stern think about other possibilities.