Cartridges: Complete Scam?

@thehorn: breathing just fine, thank you!

I also notice that we share some common choices in our MM collection.

I’ve learned something important about the title of this thread: include the word Scam and, focused only on the the ball with pentagons and hexagons, we all become first grade soccer players.

Next time I want attention I’ll just yell out "SCAM"

And yes madavid, you have absolutely no clue how good a properly set up cartridge from the 70s and 80s, using all those tools that make a difference and that you cynically besmirch, can sound. And I can tell you are a newbie to vinyl and equipment because you dismiss anything that isn't the newest, greatest and most expensive.  Exactly why the heck are you listening to stone age vinyl in 2017 for Jupiter's sake?

And yes madavid, you have absolutely no clue how good a properly set up cartridge from the 70s and 80s, using all those tools that make a difference and that you cynically besmirch, can sound. And I can tell you are a newbie to vinyl and equipment because you dismiss anything that isn't the newest, greatest and most expensive. Exactly why the heck are you listening to stone age vinyl in 2017 for Jupiter's sake?

If these cartridges are so great -- why are they long out of production and can only be found in the backs of old record stores? Why hasn't someone cloned them? Those "giant killer" Denons are all over the place -- are they really giant killers? Someone on another forum claimed that they had laser-drilled boron cartridges in the 70s, too -- so, where are they all?

The $500 protractor that is heavily recommended:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B1YAlputIvk/WC1xrdPR6aI/AAAAAAABw3Q/VSluQrIUb_04i8BywRaYZXCM28bzr80NgCK4B/...

Is it your contention than that $5k and definitely $10K+ cartridges are nothing but a scam? Is that protractor a scam -- will a paper cut-out really provide the same results?

If expensive cartridges are a scam, what's not a scam -- ie, what's effective? Tonearms? Is a $15k Basis Superarm 9 a scam? Let's just deal with something real -- that thing is DEFINITELY not even remotely close to $15k to build. Even if it took a week for a master craftsman to piece one together from the finest parts, it would be worth a few thousand dollars at most. Or is it SO ASTOUNDING in terms of sound quality that it deserves to cost hugely more than the world's best tonearms?  

I would like to add this about the cartridge scam,_______ and then the thread in general________. Thanks for your interest.

  Yeah. He's just baiting people. Nobody can be that ignorant. madavid0 you're the scam.

HERE'S THE ANSWER THE OP WANTS

Any cartridge over £200 is a total scam - because above £200 there are no economies of scale, MC's are a waste of time and money and are just there like a hook for over-wealthy audiophiles. 
For those with MC's or indeed any cartridge you are far better off downloading a piece of cardboard to align your precision made cartridge. This is whether or not you find a turntable from a dumpster or have an AirForce One.
All said and done please use super expensive speakers such as YG, Magicos or Martin Logans - with any ancillary equipment so long as they aren't wired up with Anti Cable - much better off using the stuff from Radio Shack. BTW don't ever buy a class D amp even one made by Rowland as they are inherently rubbish no matter what...