Unfortunately the taste is so different between any of us. Something that is cool for one of us is ugly for another. But when you're buying brand new $4k Technics SL1200G you can be sure about quality and with your budget you can even swap the stock arm for something like '9 inch Reed or others.
Technics has the most powerful motor in the world, nothing can beat it.
It's been proved since the '70s. Even the earlier SP-10mkII which you can find under $2k (for a drive only) is superior to almost everything mentioned above. I have experimented with many tonearms on my ex SP-10mkII ("12 inch Schick, "12 inch Reed, "10.5 inch EPA-100 ... ). So you can buy what you like (arm, plinth). It's great!
Technics has the most powerful motor in the world, nothing can beat it.
It's been proved since the '70s. Even the earlier SP-10mkII which you can find under $2k (for a drive only) is superior to almost everything mentioned above. I have experimented with many tonearms on my ex SP-10mkII ("12 inch Schick, "12 inch Reed, "10.5 inch EPA-100 ... ). So you can buy what you like (arm, plinth). It's great!