Bonjour Shawn,
I donot think that the $40 strikes. Will be the wave of the future. (even with the price of silver)Mainly because most of the tourest, are NOT going to play the $1 machines for 1 or more. Especially with the way the machines seem to be tight. I have sat and observed the strike machines. For long periods of time a number of times. While waiting to play for the red caps or my turn. And many tourest play at most a little and leave. A few have played for more then 1 or 2 if they was winning. They walked away if nothing won, in a short period of play. But, it's this "somewhat little" play by the tourest, along with our collector play. That keeps the strike machines in play. NOTE: that the casino's with very little tourest play has removed their machines in the past.

Watching the new $1 machine. Hardly any tourest played it. And if they did usually just a few dollars. The.25 cent machines was played a whole lot MORE. And there is ONLY a .25 cent difference in the amount of money. That is played into the strike machines to win a strike.

And after all it's mainly the tourest who actually keep our hobby going. Us collectors mostly play for what we need. And maybe a extra 1 or 2 then leave. And it is "only" us collectors who will put a $100 bill in the strike machine. And play the whole $100 through, even if not winning anything.

The only exception to this "maybe". Is if IGT brings back the orginial .25 cent. Combination $10 --$40 Silver Strike machines. And with a reasonable pay back schedule. Then the tourest would most likely play these machines.
Just my observations and 2 cents worth.
Dan