Craig(+):
As mentioned at the meeting tonight, the Automation Direct company is
a good source for inexpensive industrial-grade push button switches
and assorted stuff.
http://www.automationdirect.com/adc/Shopping/Catalog/Pushbuttons_-z-Switches-z-_Indicators
Jim
Oh interesting these would probably work but were not exactly what I was thinking.
Right now I’m contemplating something like these: http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/wiki/Lighting_Microswitch_Buttons
Their are several arcade specific places like this http://www.paradisearcadeshop.com/en/ that sell the buttons for around $2.50/ea. I also like the light up trackball but it’s $25. Meh, we’ll see.
I’ll be setting up a mailing list and starting a work group for this project this week (or in a week…ish) 
–Craig