Upgrade Linn LP 12 or buy new table

What arm do you have? I would imagine the cartridge is in need of replacement. These are factors.

if you are interested in new, I am very impressed by the VPI Prime

Assuming your arm is in good shape between a full tune up and a new cartridge, you can be back in to vinyl for a whole lot less than $3000. Depends on how much you want to spend on a cartridge!  Figure a Denon DL103, for instance, and your back in way under $1000. Dynavector offers some very good values too. 

Good arm and table. Need a new belt, new oil for the bearing, new springs and grommets would be nice- all part of a tune up.

Nice system 

"The absolute BEST a LINN can sound is nowhere close to modern tables in that price range"

A little extreme, and way off base. The Prime is a great table and a modern Linn, is also a great table. 

As a Linn is an upgraded AR a BMW 7 series is an upgraded Chevy Nova

I did a Kore in 2015. Way good move. Everything was better, no trade offs. 

2016 is likely the year for a new cartridge. I have an Arkiv B. Long in the tooth. My first inclination was the Kandid and now I see there's a new cartridge, the Krystal, at less that 1/2 the Kandid's price. I'm not changing my tonearm (Ekos II). I have a very late type 1 lingo which means it's got the board that went into all the type 2 lingo units. 

I did a Kore in 2015. Way good move. Everything was better, no trade offs. 

2016 is likely the year for a new cartridge. I have an Arkiv B. Long in the tooth. My first inclination was the Kandid and now I see there's a new cartridge, the Krystal, at less that 1/2 the Kandid's price. I'm not changing my tonearm (Ekos II). I have a very late type 1 lingo which means it's got the board that went into all the type 2 lingo units.