MM, MC, or MI cartridge

I think I made a great choice too.  The only problem is that when you get new equipment you go into analytic mode and stop listening to the music, which is deadly.  Every record I put on is analyzed for SQ.  No way to live.  I hope to convince myself to go back to music enjoyment mode

RV, You are dead meat, at least in my experience. One of the principle reasons that I got out of vinyl was that I was compulsively listening to all of the audio thingies, like sound stage in particular. I venerated my "Living Stereos"! I came to realize that the cost of vinyl (both the good things and the bad) was the loss of interest in the music itself. Modern digital was good enuf and I can listen thru the digital artifacts and hear the music without much distraction. So much out there in digital (not on LPs) to explore and, potentially at least, enjoy. :-) FWIW.

newbee,

I totally agree that digital is unlimited in capacity and enjoyment. In the past couple of years I’ve gotten my digital setup to where I want it, and it sounds great.  I’ve been enjoying streaming and the SQ it provides a great deal. 
BUT, I have over 2000 records many of which also sound great, and I want to get the maximum out of that. 
I may indeed be “dead meat” if I can’t reconcile the compulsive analysis with the music.  Let’s just say, I know what you’re talking about.

 But maybe digital and analog can peacefully coexist.

One thing that I have reaffirmed is that digital and analog are not nearly so far apart sonically as they once were. The gap is much smaller. 
 Digital has really come a very long way. 

The most reliable thing for me is whether I drift off and choose to do other things rather than listen to music. When I've got something right I can't wait to get home and turn on the system and play some music.