Hmm. Something not mentioned so far with regards to speed stability is soundstage. Anyone who has heard a good tape machine knows what I mean.
When the 'table speeds up and slows down the skating forces on any radial tracking arm will change. This in turn places forces upon the stylus. In effect, the lateral tracking force of the stylus oscillates. IOW we hear the speed variation as an instability in the soundstage.
Tape is immune to this sort of thing. So are straight tracking arms.
When the machine is really good at speed stability, and if you have a concentric LP(!) then the soundstage will match that of tape.
When the total speed is off, sometimes I hear it due to the pitch, other times I hear it due to the timing. Musicians play things in certain keys and tempos for a reason. With some pieces a speed error is of no consequence and with others it means the heart and soul of the piece is not transmitted to the listener...