Anti-Skating or just let it skate? Your opinion.

I think the proof is in the playback. I've come to learn that the less AS, the better. And, what I find to work for me is much less than what the tonearm manufacturer supplies for a AS weight. Too much AS is just as detrimental as too much VTF. It creates an over-damped situation that suppresses dynamics and speed. That said, you really have to apply AS if you get that tell-tale buzz in the right channel because then you do have a problem. If you don't hear it, then don't increase AS. I have many records that I can play with no AS at all. But I will no longer buy an arm that doesn't have AS.

Just my .02.

I think the concept of anti-skating makes sense, but in practice I leave the hanging weight contraption off my SME IIIs arm because it sounds better that way. This reinforces Harry Weisfield's (VPI President) contention that conventional anti-skating devices tend to slightly muddy or veil the sound. I'm running the SME with four interchangeable armtubes (ADC, Grace, Ortofon and Pickering cartridges) at approx. 1g and hear no inner-groove distortion with any of them. In general, I believe the less AS, the better, subject to any audible inner-groove problems, which tend to reflect arm deficiencies, IMHO.
Dave