Hard to really gauge the market these days. It is a moving target most of the time. As collectors, many want the cookie titles, and Stern's don't fit that category (yet). Data East games are an example of the unpredictable market. Nearly every week, I am asked if I can source a Gun's N Roses. Recently, the Star Wars and TFTC have become popular. Yet most collectors want Bally Williams. I'm sure that in time, Metallica and AC/DC will become the Addams Family and Twilight Zone's in collections.
Operators see pinballs in the context of their earning capacity. So we can only judge Sterns on their own as they probably dominate routes. Operators will move on games that don't earn any longer, or they leave them onsite in poor condition. It has been a long time since I've seen a Scared Stiff or an Addams on location. AC/DC appeared on container lists quite some time ago. Operators overseas moved these off location quickly. I've yet to see a Metallica appear on a list, but I've seen tons of Rolling Stones and Trons. Mustangs have just appeared - which I find strange.
The other thing to consider is the volume of the titles. Bally Williams production figures are well known, whereas Sterns are not. Maybe its a generation thing - Us older folks hold on to games longer.
