"in the old days.."
If a machine was not working, there was a call to the batphone / answering service. There was no way a machine would be left onsite, not working, for more than a couple hours. It would be removed from site and replaced with another. Times may have changed, but there was a certain level of "pride" back then. NO "modern" operators would have survived in the 60's - 80's. They are just too "slack".
I've been tempted to site some of my pins at Zagames - But they are "out of view".. At LEAST I'd go there once a week for a meal and I'd check the pins out VERY often.