Think I ruined stylus

I second the idea of the stylus picking up a dust wad. Even if it was ruined, it should have been worth it.

Exact is a nude mounted stylus tip. Look closely at it in a strong light. If you see the diamond tip there, it’s probably fine, just dirty. Bonded tips can shear off, but nude ones…I have never seen it. Little Fwend or Safety Raiser in future, stylus cleaning gizmo now. Hudson HiFi has an electric one that combines a solvent, a vibrator and a brush effect for $40.00.

Depends on which album you were listening to. For example, most modern pressings of Bolero have proactively removed the Dead Wax in anticipation of such events. Others, it's pretty much hit and miss.

Perhaps an tonearm lifter would be a good investment?

Hope your dynamic range is just as impressive upstairs as it is downstairs.

Some of my larger cartridges physically impinge upon the large SME clamp sitting on top of the label, which makes for a rude awakening if the music has soothed my savage breast. I had not thought of that as an advantage, but now I shall try.

How's the stylus look? If the groove in the dead wax passes under the edge of a slightly eccentric label, I could see it being damaged by collision with the label edge.

I've done worse. Probably just needs a proper cleaning as stated by others.