When will we ever hear turntables demoed fairly?

inna:

So John, what do you suggest?

I was trying to answer the original question, "Why don't we hear turntables demoed fairly?", not to provide a solution. Ironically, the solution is probably the foundation of Audiogon itself. Audiogon was a high end classified ad website before it had forums and member system profiles.

Because there are so many interdependencies in an LP playback system, it is better to evolve the system over time, making one change at a time, do in-home demos where you can (e.g., phono stage, mats, cables, etc.) and when you get a bad match for a cartridge, put it up for sale. If it's a desirable cartridge with minimal time on it, you might recoup 80-90% of the purchase price. Audiogon classifieds offer many such items.
 

We'll leave it at that - there are seemengly no solutions. Except that one may try all possible combinations in one's system in the hope of finding subjectively the best one. Funny, isn't it? 
A few days ago, I was listening to the advertising video on Pear Audio website. Hard to get into the sound through all this digital. However, I had an impression that the turntable itself and probably the arm were very fine but the cartridge and the speakers were not quite by comparison. Electronics appear at least good. Point is that you can hear the table's performance regardless of whatever else is there. Just because it is difficult doesn't mean that it cannot be accomplished. I might've been somewhat wrong in my example, but one thing I am certain of - that table is excellent. When the foundation of the source is good you know it.
Good luck to everyone on their sound quests.

Another example. Go to Purist Audio Design cables webside, there are some videos of systems's demo. You can hear clearly that those Tidal speakers and electronics are inerior to Classic Aidio/Atma-Sphere system, even though the Tidal system has a digital source you can differentiate. By the way, the analog front end in Classic Audio/ Atmashere set-up was not up to the task. Not bad but not good.

Anyway, Pear Audio tables/arms, Atma-Sphere amps, Classic Audio speakers, Purist Audio cables and probably Pear Audio electronics too are most definitely worth auditioning. Simple, isn't it? Just add a cartridge and you'll be fine.

When I was a dealer I put a brand new cartridge on for a demo. He liked it but wanted one new in the box. I told to forget it and he finally took the demo. You would not believe the crap honest dealers have to go through. I once had someone I knew but who had bought it in Hong Kong and couldn't get it to work. I told him 4 times that he probably had the tape monitor switch on but he would not go check it. He finally did and of course it was the problem. This was early on Sat morning. This was mild compared to some. Like the guy who borrowed some expensive speakers and returned them when I wasn't there by throwing them through the through the door. And another who left a turntable on the porch when I was gone.