For all those who are interested:
The YURKIE ColecoVision
My Yurkie fully modified ColecoVision arrived in beautiful condition, fully cleaned, black and shiny.
The obvious change in the system that immediately drew my eyes are the modified ball knob controllers - they fit perfectly in my hands (and between my fingers) and have a very durable, high quality feel to them. Game control with the new ball knobs has greatly improved and the straightened cords now allow for full range of movement without pulling on the console.
The modifications to the console itself are less obvious, which is in my own opinion - EXCELLENT. The pause button switch and video out port in the back could be construed as an original design, something that Coleco could have manufactured as part of the console back in the day. To me, it's minimalist approach that is both simple and elegant. The video output is outstanding - clean and vibrant - it works extremely well and the sound is clear.
For me, the nostalgic value of the ColecoVision is very high - made even higher (and better) by Yurkie's selective parts and professional work.
So is the Yurkie modified ColecoVision worth it? -- A very resounding YES!
Will I be buying another Yurkie ColecoVision soon? -- ABSOLUTELY!!!