Just a little data to keep things in perspective.
Updated May 31, 2013
Average price for 1 game on a real table, assuming you can find one in working order: $0.75
Average price for unlimited play of a TPA table: $2.50
Average price of unlimited play of a TPA table with its Pro Mode: $6.50
Price of 6 hours of real pinball at CP Pinball, when it's open: $15
Entry fee into one small local tournament: $20
Total spent on one competitive pinball league season: $60
Total I've spent on TPA (not including Kickstarters): $112
Entry fee into a major tournament (Pinburgh 2013): $150 + token costs
Total I spent on my quest to reach Lost in the Zone on a real Twilight Zone: $300
Total I've spent on playing real pinball in the past year (not including machine purchases): $1,000
Average price of a real second-tier 1990s Williams/Bally machine, reasonably good condition: $3,500
Average price of a real Medieval Madness machine, reasonably good condition: $11,000
Price of the two real machines (TZ and AC/DC) in my living room, including transportation costs: $13,000
Estimated total price of all 30 physical machines in TPA, in average condition: $117,000
Updated May 31, 2013
Average price for 1 game on a real table, assuming you can find one in working order: $0.75
Average price for unlimited play of a TPA table: $2.50
Average price of unlimited play of a TPA table with its Pro Mode: $6.50
Price of 6 hours of real pinball at CP Pinball, when it's open: $15
Entry fee into one small local tournament: $20
Total spent on one competitive pinball league season: $60
Total I've spent on TPA (not including Kickstarters): $112
Entry fee into a major tournament (Pinburgh 2013): $150 + token costs
Total I spent on my quest to reach Lost in the Zone on a real Twilight Zone: $300
Total I've spent on playing real pinball in the past year (not including machine purchases): $1,000
Average price of a real second-tier 1990s Williams/Bally machine, reasonably good condition: $3,500
Average price of a real Medieval Madness machine, reasonably good condition: $11,000
Price of the two real machines (TZ and AC/DC) in my living room, including transportation costs: $13,000
Estimated total price of all 30 physical machines in TPA, in average condition: $117,000
