I think if it can be normalized to some degree the hardware, then homemade pins can take off. You would need:
Solenoid driver board*
Lamp driver board* (LED Wiz?)
The LED Wiz can be a solenoid driver board. Again, use the outputs of the wiz and go to a transistor or relay and you can control higher voltage circuits.
This would be another reason for Randy to make progress on software for more than 1 LEDWiz.
You figure 1 wiz for lighting and a second for solenoids. If a computer were the brains, you could use it for sound samples. You could use a pentium 1 as all you would need to run is sound, and the the program and the I/O. 32 outputs should be more than adequate. You figure, 2 for flippers, possibly 3 pop bumpers, 4 sling shots, a couple of drop hole returns. It would be plenty.
Here is another thing to consider.
-->LINKITYLINK<--This would allow you to use a Williams System 7 main and or driver boards. He has also made display boards. I was abut an inch away from buying a new main board for my Black Knight when I got it fixed and no longer had a need.
There is a major cost consideration for a pin. with a mame machine there is a computer, encoder and buttons, and joys and the rest is done on the screen. If you go the pin route there are SO MANY parts. It would seem a logistical nightmare. anyone who has ever been under the hood of a pin has to have respect for the guys that built these things.