Pioneer Direct Drives - Now and then?

Thanks everyone for the ideas!!

I owned the PLX-1000 for a spell. Contrary to fanboy myth, it does sound and perform just as well if not better than the fabled 1200 MKII. Also feels like a higher quality machine in my opinion. 

I think to get a DD that's significantly better you'd have to spring for the 1200GR. 

Note that cartridge overhang for the PLX is different than the 1200s so you can't use the Technics plastic headshell jig. No loss really as that thing only achieves a ballpark alignment anyhow.

The KAB arm damper fits the PLX.

I also preferred the PLX to a VPI Classic 1, though that was not with a particularly good cartridge admittedly. 

It's a good performer in the objective sense, however, it does play with the forced-weightiness and digital-like glare typical of DD tables. Though, to get better objective performance out of a belt-drive  you'd be looking at $3K^. 

I’m blown away at your post Eric.  You have been a member since 2005, 9000 posts, and you sound like this will be your first turntable. You want to spend $1000 but you claim you will buy as little as 5 albums.  You also want to set it and forget it.  Unlikely.   Why bother?
Having said that my first table was a Pioneer PL -530.  Semi-automatic.  It worked wonderfully for many years including being packed for several international moves. One of these might scratch your itch on the cheap.

So weird!  Earlier this year, I bought a Lyngdorf integrated with a built in MM phono preamp and said to myself--Hey remember that old Pioneer PL 51 table you bought in 1973 that you've had in storage since 1982?   Maybe it's time.  The drive still works, but the cantilever was broken on the Shure 97HE I was using.  I can't find a replacement stylus, and I've sort of choked on the cost of buying a decent replacement.  I've still got my modest vinyl collection, but--- do I want to start putting cash into this?  There are two ways this could go.   I could fall in love with vinyl again, which is going to be crossing the event horizon into the black hole for me and my cash.  Or, I could just keep the thing around as an exercise in nostalgia.   But along comes Eric, and I think, maybe Eric will run this experiment for me.  @erik_squires , do keep us posted on how you decide to go.  I may be following in your footsteps.

helomech, Was interested in your comment about "forced-weightiness and digital-like glare typical of DD tables".  Would you care to back that up? Exactly what turntables have exhibited those qualities in your system?  And can you define "forced-weightiness"?  Thanks.