Upgrade Linn LP 12 or buy new table

Sow's ear / silk purse problem.  A Linn is, at best, a refined AR.  Not up to current standards. 

Not shooting form the hip.  Actual experience says otherwise. 

I may be selling my 8 month-old VPI Prime.  Deciding whether to trade it in to a dealer or sell it privately.  If you interested, feel free to message me.  For the price, the Prime would be tough to beat.  I haven't heard of a Prime owner that hasn't loved it.  However, there are always other options out there that you may want to explore.   Can't comment on any other tables as I haven't auditioned many others than VPI tables. 

Actually the idea of the Sondek (sound deck) was gathered and improved from the concept of the Ariston RD11 which had parts being made by Castle Engineering (Ivor's father's shop) and was very similar to the AR XA conceived loosely from the Thorens TD150 as I recall. But who's pointing fingers anyway?

Your facts being inaccurate, seem to somewhat diminish your point to irrelevance. Just because it's an old, copied shoe box, doesn't mean it doesn't carry a tune accurately for a fair price and compete with new shiny, sleek plinths. Or at least that is my actual experience and what these ears hear. 

No inaccuracy in FACTS.  The Linn is an upgraded AR.  Nothing more.  Just keep adding more overpirced bells and whistles combined with massive amounts of voodoo, snake oil and pixie dust delivered on the backs of rainbow unicorns. 

Invest $200 in having your old Linn tuned up by an authorized Linn dealer and sit back and spin your vinyl collection. After 6-12 month, readdress your needs. It's not a race.