Questions to ask as I shop for a tonearm?

I don’t think any of the modern arms under $1500 can do it better than classic japanese tonearms. Here is what i am using along to some others which does not fit into your price tag.

These arms are all under $1500:

Lustre GST-801 - with two different counterweights and additional ringweight is fine for many cartridges from mid compliance MM to high mass low compliance MC. Magnetic tracking force and anti-skating, silver wiring, vta on the fly.

SONY PUA-7 - very easy to use/adjust for many cartridges, comes with additional sub-weight for heavy MC. Just make sure the arm has its VTA on the fly and armrest like this.

Technics EPA-100 - also very easy to use for MM cartridges and some lightweight MC, rubby ball bearings, unique counterweight with dynamic damping option. Many info online. Not good for heavy headshells and heavy cartridges! Great tonearm.  

Victor UA-7082 - long version of the popular UA-7045, very nice tonearm with vta on the fly, easy to use and adjust quickly. One of my favorites. Designed for the best DD turntable made by Victor/JVC (TT-101).

Denon DA-401 for high compliance MM cartridges only !

P.S. It depends on your cartridge, but you can’t go wrong with any of the arms from this list. Highly recommended!

To mount any tonearm you need Dr.Feickert protractor with precision Pivot to Spindle ruler. I bought mine from these guys (without VAT the price was sweet).

@stringreen azimuth and overhang can be adjusted on the removable headshell, all tonearms (except denon) in my list (for example) have VTA on the fly.

Many tonearms does not have this options and must be avoided in my opinion, especially most of the modern tonearms, don’t forget that price range extimated to $1500 by the OP. Tonearms without removable headshell, but with azimuth on the fly, cost 3 times as much (such as Reed).

I like the FR64fx, but the price is way over $1500 budget considered by the OP 

 the FR headshells aren’t great anyways.

There is a great FR headshell: model RS-141 is my favorite