New Rega Planer 8 (P8) Turntable - Apheta 2 Cartridge Combo - Thoughts

Rega previous RP8 is on sale for $2000 Music Direct. $1000 off.               
This is with no cartridge.

A record clamp is usually not used with Rega turntables Though if an old used record (not the op's!) are dish warped.. On a Rega they WILL almost stop turning... Then I use the weight from my Kuzma to hold down the LP. (So it turns with the platter properly) But otherwise no clamp.                             
The op also states : on the Rega Aphelion. It is the only Rega update I can make.  You can use ANY (compatible) cartridge. The Rega carts have three mounting points. others have two. The normal situation is two, You CAN mount a two point mount cartridge on a Rega. I use a Benz Glider.                        
Handle the record by the edges. IT can take a bit of practice to lift a record off a moving platter and flip it over and put back... Without dropping it, or touching the grooves. but to old LP users it is second nature.

The point is records are a bit difficult. Endless numbers of music enthusiasts abandoned LP playback the moment CD came along!   
I own thousands of LPs... three turntables, Five phono boxes.. And usually play a few LPs once or twice a month.  Normally I am playing CDs eight hours a day... Every day.All these years I have never owned a record cleaning machine. I vacuum them off (yes a vacuum cleaner!) And wash them in the sink too if they are really dirty. I buy 90% used records..  No problem. 
I like LPs.. just not exclusively, nor better than CD.