Not sure, I remember converting DK cocktail to 39 in 1 ( thats what people wanted to buy), Ivan stewart (upgraded to track pak), Centipede i gutted (too much damage to box), an OutRunners (gutted - too heavy - box was 800lbs). Those were the ones I can remember trying to sell on EBAY. People did buy the steering wheels w/feedback motors, both 25" monitors, and shifters.
Around that time, I paid $30 for a working Ivan Stewart Pcb with the Track Pak already stacked on main board off of EBAY.
You got me wondering about the time though I Built an arcade in the basement for the kids (they were about 8 & 10) so I'm gonna say year +/- 1998. Back then I could pick up an arcade (good shape) complete +/- $100. Of course, the monitor always needed fixed.
Anyways, your right about 15yrs. But +/-25 yrs. ago, nobody bought my working pcbs (100% feedback) for $20+ shipping on Ebay.
Not sure if you know Coin op warehouse (Lloyd), but I been dealing with him for 25 yrs. Coinop warehouse is only 5 miles from my house. He had his 3 last auctions in the last couple of weeks. I bought some projects off him. MR DO! cocktail, old shuffle bowl, 3 Arachnid dartboards (monitors need fixed), Merit Spectrum dartboard, 2 internet jukeboxes, various marquees, signs, and of course this filing cabinet with manuals. Small world, LLoyd is now opening a Retro game store here in town.
His son Ben has his own coinop warehouse here in Hagerstown, MD too. Not sure what his store name is though. I would bet he has pcbs lying around for sale.
Lol, the ending to this book i wrote is - 15yrs ago - Kept 2 arcades + sold 3 pinball machines + sold 6 working arcades. Made a killing. I took the $ to finish my NES and SEGA collection.
Moral of the story--- I'm OLD and can't type fast. LOL