Buying a new TT today

So it either breaks or not.....just like a Rolex needs service when it stops working?

The sound quality doesn’t gradually get worse?

Yes, there should be signs - distortion, sibilance... you can have it inspected under a microscope for signs of wear.

Thanks and for the $25 word I just learned. Good to know it will be obvious.

It may be subtle, but if starts sounding different, have it looked at. 

I was typing on my phone, so my answers were kind of short.  The long version of the story about the diamond falling off was that I bought the MC-Two Special second hand.  When I mounted it and set it up, it sounded horrible.  That's when I took a close look and saw there was no diamond on the cantilever.  I notified the seller and they refunded my money and said they didn't want the cartridge returned.  That's when I decided to look into having it rebuilt.  At the time the person representing Van Den Hul was someone on Florida.  I contacted him and found out the rebuild was the same cost as what I paid for the cart., so I figured why not.  It took a bit (ok, a lot) longer than I was told it would, but was worth it at the end of the day.  I think you'll have a better and more professional experience with VPI than I did.  I wonder if A.J. is still doing the rebuilds.  I believe he's in his 80's.

Let’s not keep hyping the great vintage tables and cartridges so much. It just pushes the prices higher for us. Best to just not argue with people so much and let them buy their cheap belt drives and let them find their path to better sound on their own.