Pro's/Con's Of audiophile TT

Thorens used to make a portable, stick-on auto arm lift device for 10-20 dollars or so.

I put on on my manual table back in the 80's and it continues to operate without error to this day (look at the pic of the Linn Axis table in my system and you can see it mounted between platter and tonearm mount on my table near the rear of the arm).

Not sure if such a device is still available these days, but if so, properly adjusted and located, it is a reliable add on for a manual table to automatically lift the arm at the end of play.

With all due respect, have you considered refurbishing your Kenwood or tweaking (the arm, especially)? It used to be a good product in its day. Are you certain the Scout will be an improvement?
(As to an arm lift, look for the device Mapman describes or similar.)

I've had a couple of VPI Scouts but am now using and really enjoying a new Technics SL-1200 Mk II.

Please consider moving up to a used, mint condition Denon 47F with a Denon 103 cartridge. Pick up a must. The convenience of autolift, repeat and button arm control will give you the sonics of a VPI, at much lower cost. I have this unit, and also a VPI Aries/Clearaudio rig and believe me, the Denon can match and beat my VPI. VPI top of the line, with super platter, p-ring etc. will better the Denon, but your talking a $10K difference. Get the Denon, try it and see if it does not meet your needs. Denon's are easy to resell with little loss of value.

I agree with Gregm. The Kenwood KD990 should be a good TT at its base. I personally have no experience with the 990. The 880 and the 1100 are nice tables which I have played around with. The 990, I believe (but someone else can probably say with more certainty), came after the 1100, with most of the same technology but with a lesser plinth material. The older Kenwoods had less torque than the Technics, but they cost a lot less and had a similar or higher inertia moment, and very low wow/flutter numbers, and the lower torque made for quite low rumble. FWIW, a lot of people here in Japan take the 1100 out of its plinth and use the 'spider frame' only (looks kind of like a Micro RX3000 that way) with additional footers or isolation under the existing footers. Most people who have tried never go back. I do not remember having seen a 990 opened up, but my understanding is that the 990 has the same spider frame inside. From what I have read, the arm was an 'upgrade' with solid core silver wire (as opposed to a copper litz on the 1100), and a slightly different method of attaching it to the plinth, but the cost 'savings' came in plinth material. My personal bet is that the 990 could be tricked out quite substantially if one really wanted.

BTW... there is absolutely nothing wrong with appreciating the end of record auto lift. It is a great thing to have. I have it on a few of the TTs I currently use, and I very much appreciate it.