TT, 12" Tonearm. Who tried and ended up preferring 12" arm?

Just a final comment on the droop seen on many 7082 and 7045 arms.
The only way I believe you will ever see one of these with zero droop is from a nos example that has lived in its sealed box all of its life.
Many reasons for the droop to exist on used examples.

Not really, the NOS are normally very expensive compared to gently used samples, just like everything in audio. I've seen only a few NOS samples in 5 years or so, i bought one of them, it was 7045, sold it when i bought long 7082 (used). My 7082 does not have any problem with rubber grommet, but it's original, everything is clean like new. 

Regarding the used 7045 only 1 out of 3 wasn't perfect. So it's possible to find a perfect used sample, nice and clean. 

Another problem is oil in armlift, but the whole armlift can be replaced with new jelco armlift.

The problem is that most people selling junk on ebay, i prefer to buy everything from a perfectionists like myself.  

Chak, I am looking at your post of 12/22 at 12:06.  Do you not see a slight sag in the CW, even for your pristine example?  I do.

C'mon now Lewm.
Chakster is always right and has to have the last word......

 Do you not see a slight sag in the CW, even for your pristine example? I do.

We can look at another image from the internet:

a perfect tonearm 
and a broken sample 

Anything in between is SAG at different degree, but clearly visible from the first fast look on it. 

Interesting pictures that do not quite tell the whole story as you are painting it Chak…….

If you look at a few more pictures on the net you will clearly see the one you posted has the whole collar askew.
There are quite a few with a straight collar and some degree of sag that is genuinely from the rubber but do not look as bad as the one picture you posted.

However you want to beat it to death, the terminology is NOT defective or broken!

Although the picture you did post would qualify as broken imho yes.