Most hyped turntable, tonearm, and cartridge?

Excellent early point made:  don't mess with antiques! if you have a choice.  I run 2 full systems at home.  One is a 1978 fully maintained and updated Thorens TD-160 with Ortofon MM Bronze cart.  The other is a new Rega 6 with the same cart.  The Rega is now at about $3,000 with addtitions like a tone arm lifter and high end belt and the Thorens is about $2,500 with many up dates too.  I have loved the Thorens for over 25 years and the Rega for much less.
Most important difference is in the "material science" and advances made in everything down to how they 'draw copper wire' has changed.  If I could replace everything on the Thorens with the same materials used on the Rega and I would have the best ever.  
If my house burned down tomorrow and I moved into a new place and could replace one set of stereo gear, I would buy the Rega.  In a heart beat.  Old loves are dear, but old.  I am old and I know it is not to be desired.  Inch for inch and dollar for dollar the new stuff is way, way better if you shop smart.  As long as you stay with analogue and vinyl it is hard to get it too wrong.  
P.S.  I am a fussy listener but cannot really tell the difference in music once you get much over $3,000 into a turntable.  Fantastically expensive equipment does much to impress, but not by the sound.  This is ever more true about old equipment.    

Agree with rcronk 100%. Exceptions are appliances for the home like washers dryers and refrigerators and water heaters. They are not made as well as ones 25 years ago.

There s something almost Zen about linear tracking tonearms. I am conflicted on whether they are better than a 12 inch or 9 inch tonearm. Many reviewers who listen and evaluate for a living seem skeptical. The added complication of air bearings and more things to go wrong alienate me and I doubt I could ever afford zero tracking error instead of tracking error so small it might not be worth the trouble. Are tangential tonearms hyped? I would like to read the opinions of others on this.

I don’t know about hyping, but I have 4 turntables, and can rank them in sound quality in my systems.
1. Pro-ject Signature 10
2. Pro-ject RPM 10.1 Evolution
3. and 4. tied:
  - Clearaudio Concept
  - Oracle Delphi V with Granite plinth
You can’t go wrong with a Pro-ject TT in the $3k to $4.5k range. I find that Hana, Audio Technica, Ortofon and Sumiko mc cartridges with mid to hi compliance in the $1k - $2k range work best..

With respect to linear tracking arms, I have some, albeit limited, experience. I used an Eminent Technology air bearing tangential arm on a Sota Sapphire table. No big deal. Sound quality no better than a decent pivoted arm. And the air pump, etc was a pain. I have been avoiding linear trackers ever since.