Stylus shape?

Well, Nandric always referring to MC design. 
But MM/MI cartridge manufacturers often making one cartridge with different styli (user replaceable), on the same cartridge body the advanced stylus profile will be better. Ortofon did it, Grado did it, Grace did it ...  

Dear chakster, your statement is too ''general''. Nanric refer always
to specific MC's and their designers.  That is how you learned from
your older brother  wich one to buy (grin).

That is how you learned from
your older brother wich one to buy (grin).

It is true

p.s. I feel that everyone is older here :) 

The paradox is that when you are young you want to be older
while when you are older you want to be young. 
You dear chakster have ''other'' problem than I. 

The Shibata and microline styli have the most potential as they meet the groove with very narrow horizontal profiles, closer to that of the original cutting head. The Shibata was developed initially to track perfectly the 44kHz carrier wave of the RCA quadrophonic disks.

However, so that they don’t wear out so fast they have long vertical profiles increasing their total contact area. They are therefore far more sensitive to correct SRA adjustment than are less sophisticated shapes. Adjustment for correct SRA probably is the most challenging one for most vinylphiles. Compare to the correct alignment of a tape machine’s reading head.

Many users are therefore disappointed with these styli compared to a good elliptical one.