Vintage DD turntables. Are we living dangerously?

Henry, I don't think your premise, in the above question, is necessarily correct.  GT2000s are not that expensive in Tokyo.  I don't know how the values compare to that of a TT101, but it's probably very close. In my opinion, both products are "sleepers", in terms of bang for the buck.  That said, I could be incorrect in my idea of relative values based on recent sales. I check Hi-fi-do and Top Class once in a while. GT2000s "seem" to be less rare than TT101s.  I've seen many for sale in Tokyo and almost no TT101s.  GT2000X is quite rare, based only on my observations over the last 5-6 years and several visits to Tokyo audio salons, whilst visiting our son who lives there. Interesting to note thanks to Hiho that the differences between GT2000 and GT2000X are much more than just adding a metal brace to the plinth.  Does the heftier bearing indicate also a more massive platter and also perhaps a more torque-y motor?

Can you clarify one thing: Is that Thuchan's plinth?  Cutting that shape out of slate is no mean feat.

lewn
 Does the heftier bearing indicate also a more massive platter.

Not always, the big boy Gunmetal platter was an  $$ option that could be fitted on either model but more often than not found its way to the
to the X model.
The fracturing on portions of the OEM arms was due to a breakdown over time of the pot metal or something similarly used. 

The only differences I've been able to find between GT2000 & GT2000X are the better bearing, plinth, and tonearm in the latter. This has also been confirmed by someone who has worked on both. The platter and motor as well as the motor controller appear to be the same. GT2000X usually sells for multiples of GT2000. 

That gunmetal platter weighs 18kg and usually goes for more than the turntable itself. Here's one for sale:
http://page6.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/f174978328

The metal frame that lewm mentioned was an optional accessory that appears very rarely on the used market. Here is a current replica of it, though in gunmetal rather than cast iron:
http://www.ne.jp/asahi/y31/pro/y31ab1/phot.htm

All the other original options are briefly explained here:
http://audio-heritage.jp/YAMAHA/player/gt-2000.html

I would kill for another of those Yamaha brass and wood record weights.
Do you see any of these come up on Yahoo Japan  sampsa?

Lewm, I was speaking generally after hiho posted his interesting (as always) info about Yamaha using Victor/JVC motors and electronics.
if you follow HiFiDo you will see that mountains of GT 750s and GT 1000s sell for around $1,000 and GT 2000s are often double that with the 2000X and 2000L multiples of that price.
The Victor TT-61, 71 and 81 often languish below $400 whilst the occasional TT-101 might go for $1500 so my question (and premise) remains unanswered....