To be quite honest the whole "Stern has a new game announced, buy now before seeing rush" needs to stop as it leads to the issues buyers are experiencing. Repeated issues that escalate not diminish, with continued pre release sales allow Stern to ride a wave that really shouldn't exist.
If people hold back on a 30th anniversary machine then GOOD!.. onus is then back on customer satisfaction.
Gary is always smiling and there's a good reason why.