Is extremely accurate "VTA" adjustment necessary?

The up to 7 degree variation in VTA while playing presumably applies to warped records. The question then becomes: Can listeners consistently identify the warped copy in "blind" listening to the same music on two identical record pressings, one flat and one warped?

What about Mapleshade's assertion that the suspension of the cartridge settles, and the arm needs to be raised about every 3 months to maintain proper VTA?

Anyone that starts to feel really confused by now please put their hands up.
I'm first!

Re Gandy's comments regarding the Rega - Wasn't one of the downsides of using a Rega TT/Arm was that there was no provision for simple repeatible adjustible VTA? If so, has anyone questioned Gandy's motive for the white paper?

It is obvious (I think even to Gandy) that setting VTA is critical to proper set-up. That proper VTA, once VTA is initially established, it is a moving target, dependible on many external issues, such as record thickness and tracking force changes for a couple of examples, doesn't mean that that you should ignore improving the VTA completely. For example I have used different TT mats with different thicknesses to compensate for different thicknesses of the record. I've even cheated by changing the tracking force a tad as well when I had a disc that needed a touch up.

Then I had an arm with VTA adjustible of the fly. The only problem, or risk if you will, of having the latter is if you become so anal about getting the perfect alignment that you spend all your time running between you listening chair and the TT adjusting VTA. Close can be good enuf, for me anyway! :-)

What I read into this fact sheet was nothing more than a rational for completely ignoring the issue, ergo the rational for buying a Rega TT.

FWIW.

Newbee, yes, a rational for ignoring adjustment of your VTA-exactly but why have to tell others it is irrelevant and give incorrect or exaggerated information?

Once I had the Wheaton tone arm with a caliper scale. I did mark about 100 records to set this. I don't do that with the Shindo Labs but do make changes for thick records, such as 200 grams.