In the OP device, the ball started it's fall through the hole at the bottom of the bowl. After it's run down the wires, it had to reach a height of higher than the hole in order to get over the lip of the bowl. There's always a catch to these gizmos even if we can't see it here.

“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.”
― George Orwell

It's not over when you lose. It's over when you quit.