Vintage DD turntables. Are we living dangerously?

Uber, With diligence and patience, I think you could find a used Mat1 or Mat2. But maybe it's cheaper and faster to just buy this new copy.

Not strong on patience I am afraid, hence the reasoning behind so many equipment changes over the years.... lol.

So since the thickness of the Mat2 is no problem for me on either of two turntables where I use Mat2s, why would you say the new product is "better" than the Mat2, when even the manufacturer claims it is only "identical" in performance?

@lewm I said "probably" because it’s much thinner without any loss in quality.
And for those who’re looking for BA mats this is the only one that is NEW for $250, old BA mats are all used (secondhand).

Chakster.
Thanks very much for the info on the "new" Boston Mat.
Wanted to try one but near impossible to find an original one.
Will look into it.

@uberwalts You’re welcome, i think it’s better to buy latest version, because each one who owned BA-1 claimed BA2 was better, now they have "mk3" with warranty from the Sakura Systems 

@lewm i rarely seen BA mats, when i tried to buy from BA direct it was sold out and you know it was many years ago. I hope that teamed up with Sakura they made something better, because it is not just a re-issue of BA-2 or BA-1. Compared to SAEC those mats must be fixed to the platter with tape (i'm thinking to do so), they are so light and the hole diameter is slightly bigger than needed.   

Yes, I think the BA website is kaput, last time I looked.  They were either bought or went out of business, for some reason.  One person suggested they had a lot of trouble manufacturing that mat, maybe because it may tend to be brittle and to fracture during the manufacture process.
Raul, The reason I and perhaps others settle for preferring one item vs another based on personal taste ("I like it", in other words) is because very rarely in this hobby can one draw a proven cause-effect relationship between the physical nature of the thing and the way the thing sounds.  For example, you correctly note that metals resonate. (You say at audio frequencies, but I would like to see proof even of that statement. I think the resonant frequency would also depend upon mass and shape, as well as on the material.)  You go on to claim that the resonant behavior at audio frequencies of a turntable mat feeds back into the stylus, which we can all agree would be undesirable.  What is your proof of that? Can you cite any scientifically done studies on resonance of turntable mats to support your claim?  Also, what would excite resonance in a metal mat?  Only energy that is delivered by a resonating LP.  But as you would also point out, energy transfer between a vinyl LP and a metal mat would be poor based on known physical laws; most resonant energy should be reflected back into the vinyl.  So, if a metal mat doesn't sound good to your ears, I would prefer to blame the poor capacity of a metal mat to absorb and dissipate energy in the LP that results from the vibration of the stylus tip.  That, at least, makes sense in theory that we know, but we have no data to prove that the phenomenon occurs to a significant degree.  So, instead of thinking I know why this or that happens in audio, I prefer to say here that I just like one thing or another, and it's only my opinion.  We're all different, and I choose not to impose my opinion on anyone else, except to make it plain what my opinion is.  If you want to take up the mantle of a guru with the final say on all audio issues, have fun.  Others are always going to have opinions that differ from yours.  Live with it.