Linear tracking turntables, whatever happened?

These are very good comments but I am still left wondering what was wrong with the general consumer models like the Revox, B&O, Technics etc that caused their lack of acceptance.
Surely it was not just all down to the fact that people treated them more like cd players as alluded to?

^^^^
I have heard it said many times in the past, that it was the DJ’s in clubs that saved "turntables" when CD took over. They used sl1200’s and the like. Very durable built like tanks. Came in a bomb proof silver case.
There is no way an SL10 linear tracker would have lasted one night in a club.

8^0

@lewn wrote The only full bore turntable/SL tonearm available now comes from Germany, I think, but I cannot recall its name. Another German company, Brinkmann may also make one.

I believe you are referring to Bergmann and not Brinkmann

@uberwaltz my sense is several things happening near simultaneously decline of LP in 80’s so investment in mass market even high end table refinement declined
some like B&O required unique cartridges, which were not great...
the relatively simple but consumer rugged servo drives / sensors hunted a lot and did not sell well.....
disclaimer - I managed a sizable dealerships at that time, our only Linear was the Souther, we had Denon, SOTA, thorens, etc

But.... after painful setup.... with a Dynavector Ruby the Souther on a SOTA Sapphire could be made to sing !!!!!!