Ken,
Hearing a cartridge go through its changes can be educational. OTOH, if all one wanted to do was enjoy music, that sort of audiophilia would indeed be distracting.
Some hours spinning on the Cardas record, with VTF set near the manufacturer's recommended maximum, works pretty well for speeding the process along. I don't know how the device mentioned by Fremer works so I can't offer any comparisons.
For cartridge break in on the Cardas LP you don't need to power up the system and listen to white noise. You don't need to use your primary rig. If you have a second TT, mount the new cartridge on that and let it exercise the suspension into shape while you enjoy music on your main system.
BTW, some cartridge models take much longer than others to settle in. A ZYX Airy 3, Transfiguration Orpheus or Shelter 901 typically need 150-200 hours, they go through large changes and the 901 can be unpleasant when new. OTOH, don't break a ZYX UNIverse in at all. You'd be wasting valuable listening time, since most UNIverses change very little after the 10th or 20th hour and some don't change at all. IOW, don't assume a common break in period for all new cartridges. Ask around model by model.
Good luck,
Doug