Could be, except we haven't seen any factual confirmation of the "fate" as you put it.

I don't expect silver values to make the strikes too expensive to produce. Plus there's talk of a $1 machine with a $40 strike.

Part of the atraction for me is the silver content, not because of silver value, but because it's not just a slug of stamped metal.

Quality materials and designs are more interesting for collectors. Otherwise they could be made of plastic or aluminium. How artistic is that?