Honest question about cartridge vs. turntable performance.

Well, I think we’ve successfully run off the OP with brand bashing and endless direct vs belt supremacy debate ...

In case he/she still lurking from a safe distance, the problem is there simply is NO answer the way the question is framed. This is a SYSTEMS issue ... just like the entire audio chain, but let’s just focus on this source piece, which is comprised of 3 or 4 elements (depending if you count the phone pre) ... table, arm, cartridge, phono pre.
At some level of capability and refinement EVERY one of these can be the weak link, and upon upgrading, just shifts the weak link elsewhere.  It is silly to devote a drastically disproportionate share budget or quality so that you have one immensely good element that is then limited by 3 others. 
So if you are building to an ‘ultimate’ or ‘final’ source system one big upgrade to an element one at a time ... or make less dramatic (and expensive) upgrades to individual elements that aren't significantly ‘stranding capital’ for too long.

my $0.02 ...

Different kinds of noise.....turntables provide speed variation, mechanical noise, etc.  Cartridge provides variation in frequency response, clarity, etc.

I meant to say “Unless” rather than “So” in the first sentence of last paragraph.

Thank you everyone for all your responses. My budget is limited to no more than 2k for the upgrade therefore I posed the question. I was wondering if I could just upgrade the cartridge and phone-preamp for best “bang for the buck” upgrade. I guess my main question is this: if there is surface noise when playing back vinyl (even after thorough cleaning) isn’t upgrading the table a nearly useless endeavor beyond a certain point since the noise floor improvement from a better table will never be realized? Am I being accurate in my assessment? 

 if there is surface noise when playing back vinyl (even after thorough cleaning) isn’t upgrading the table a nearly useless endeavor beyond a certain point since the noise floor improvement from a better table will never be realized?

not necessarily. you would have to do some testing to refine what is causing the noise. surface noise might be a few different things. the best approach is to first eliminate the obvious things before you start thinking about the platter or motor.

ideally you have a few Lp's and could hear them on a known properly performing turntable to get a reference for how they should sound. maybe even take them to a local hifi shop and ask them to play a short passage to find out (assuming they have a turntable).

or buy a new record that you confidently feel is likely quiet and properly pressed.

1--this noise could be as simple as some sort of gunk adhering to your stylus. heat from friction in the groove can cause that gunk to stick strongly. read up on proper cleaning methods for your cartridge.

2---could be the vinyl itself maybe with groove damage. or just a terrible pressing.

3---could be a loose cartridge mounting, or loose arm mounting.

4.---obvious noise from the platter or motor is unusual. typically you might hear some noise during very quiet passages, or maybe some 'sour' discontinuity during horn or piano sustains. but both of those things are lower level type noise, not in your face.