Why hasnt a turntable manufacturer produced a table with automatic tonearm return/shutoff?

Lew, I had a Dual 1009 (changer) with my first stereo system, then an AR-XA in my second system.  I've owned more than twenty tables since then and ALL have been manual, except a SL-7 for a bedroom system.  So maybe you are on to something.  ;^)

@reubent 

Thanks for the auto-lifter suggestions.  Most seem to be mechanically activated and I really do not feel like putting any extra side-strain on my cartridge, especially with the very low tracking force possible with the Shure V15, and even if it is only towards the end of the run-out groove!

Yup, I use The Little Fwend lifter and even that's a pain half the time- because I have to remember to reset it after every play. And I find records an annoyance filled experience regardless- despite having a great table and cartridge I find vinyl to be outrageously priced, mostly poor, noisy recordings, require too much care in handling, cleaning, storing - and - never sound as good as streaming- while also not having the ability to change tracks remotely like I can and do all the time when streaming. Other than that though- after investing 6k into it I leave it sit unused. 

These "Little Fwend" and other 3rd party lifters won't even work with a number of high end turntables. I have a Clearaudio Master Innovation and there is no plinth to speak of where one of these could be mounted. Maybe it could be positioned somehow on the armboard, but there isn't much space for that, and I definitely don't want to add things there where rigidity and complete absence of resonance is key.

Nevertheless, I still think lifters are a solution looking for a problem that can't be solved first by AA intervention. 

I have a manual Rega in the living room and a fully automatic Thorens in the listening room. I love auto lift/shutoff. If I get distracted by anything in the house, I don't come back to my stylus going scrickity pop scrickity pop... There is no reason why a properly engineered automatic mechanism should affect the sound. We've come a long way since my Dual 1209 and Garrard SL95.

It's a great convenience. Could I live without it? I do! Do I like having it? I do!

To each their own compromises, go with the audio gods, and have fun.

I'd look at the Thorens TD 1601 and the Music Hall Stealth. Good luck!