Tell about your experience with your old Audio-Technica SL-1200s..

Chakster, I am not going to debate with you, but I think your lens is broken, or perhaps it is that you are looking at things from a distant land. A reasonable comparison here in the USA would be a Technics SL1000R, which retails for a bit over $18,000 and is competitive in every way with the VPI HW40, which placed into it’s proper perspective cannot be viewed as an insane price at $15,000.

Surely from a distant land, I am not in the USA and I can order directly from Japan where they are at least 35% cheaper (SP10R cost $7k, and I’ve seen it for $5k), I normally think before I buy and search for the best deals worldwide. The reason why new Technics is more expensive in USA (than your local VPI) is because SP10R was Made in Japan in imported to USA.

However, it was clearly stated by the OP than even SL1200G for $4k is too expensive for him.

This is my ex SP-10 mkII ($1200) with 12 inch Thomas Schick tonearm $1200) in a custom made teak wook plinth $700. Total without cartridge is $3100 and this is less than new SL1200G.

This is the same SP-10R with EPA-100 tonearm, but the total is the same.

This is my current setup with a pair of Luxman PD-444 DD for two tonearms each, this turntable can be found in mint condition for $2000-3000, but for higher price it's much easier to find, here is the one for sale.

In my opinion those turntables are better than really good new SL1200G for $4k with its limitations.

When I see a turntable for $15 000 (like VPI) I think this is insane price! My thoughts, exactly. 

You’re comparing something to $15k VPI, but let me compare to reasonably priced high-end turntables that everyone can buy for under $4000 on ebay and they are better than Technics in my opinion, because I owned Technics too (many of them).

If you personally can afford $15k turntable it’s fine, but in my opinion this is way too expensive for any turntable.

Chakster wrote "If you personally can afford $15k turntable it’s fine, but in my opinion this is way too expensive for any turntable."
We can all learn how to do a better job of editing.  The sentence above is all you needed to say.  Interestingly enough I agree.
Take Care.

I bought a Technics SL-1600MKII in 1979.  I used Pickering cartridges. It served me well for a very long time, until I bought a 1200G three years ago.  I gave the 1600MKII to my son two years ago with some other of my favorite vintage gear; it is still going strong.

2 SL-1200 mk II’s
1 SL- 1210 black version is all.

  Had the reg 1200’s mkII for well over 30 years now, 
REMOVE PLATTER, spindle, take apart, wipe clean add 2 -3 drops clean synthetic oil.  Plan on them going to family someday

 they will be good for another  15-20 years.

  No other turntable can say that.
maybe my Dual.....

 best turntable ever made, the motor is crazy reliable, 

can not afford the newer version of the 1200., isn’t it. Starting about 1K$

Thanks everyone for their comments/suggestions - even the ones that strayed a bit from the question because it made me think out of the box, and again I apologize again for hosing up the title.  Haven't bought anything else yet - was about to pull the trigger on a GR but then they evaporated here on the eastern coast, and almost snagged a VPI Classic 1.  Looked at the SP-10 MKII's available but the ones I saw were in the $3-4K range and the others had speed/spindle/damage issues.  Tried yet again to swap the aluminum Technics head shell with the Zupreme but still couldn't get it to sound just right (though I did get the azimuth dialed in near perfectly).  Did the calculations for resonance and came up with 9 Hz for the Technics tonearm and head shell with a Hana SL cartridge and 8 Hz with the Zupreme - not a big difference there but the Zupreme is a bit heavier - 12 grams vs 7.5 for the Technics.  Maybe the installed KAB fluid damper is coming into play here, not sure.  Can't get a definitive reading on the resonance freq from the Analogue Test LP.  I'm holding steady right now, it seems.