Chak, you frequently recommend the 17D2. As you know, it has been superseded by the 17D3, more than a decade ago or even two decades ago, and even the 17D3 has been discontinued and replaced by the 17DX, a current model that can actually be purchased NOS. I have a 17D3 myself, and it's nice but so far not a world beater. (To be fair, I have to use it more; it was sitting in my friend's collection unused for probably 10 years before I "inherited" it.) Anyway, the 17DS that you mentioned is also discontinued. Where does it fit in to the history? It seems to have been marketed in Japan-only, about the same time Dynavector was selling the 17D2 internationally, back in the 90s.
I have to agree that if you love a 17D series for what it is, you probably don't want to re-tip it in the expectation it will sound the same afterwards. First, not many re-tippers can supply a similar stylus shape, and not many can replace a nude diamond without also replacing the cantilever. However, I don't think the problem would be the adhesive per se, as the original stylus is also bonded to the diamond cantilever.
I have to agree that if you love a 17D series for what it is, you probably don't want to re-tip it in the expectation it will sound the same afterwards. First, not many re-tippers can supply a similar stylus shape, and not many can replace a nude diamond without also replacing the cantilever. However, I don't think the problem would be the adhesive per se, as the original stylus is also bonded to the diamond cantilever.