recommendations for TT + arm + cart, around $3.5k

I WOULD get the VPI classic and a $700 to 1K $$ cart.
Carts to go with:
Benz Glider, Benz ACE, Ortofon 2M black, Dynavector20X Lyra Dorian
The VPI is a great table.
I just bought a Rega P5 with a Benz Glider,.. I would have gotten the VPI classic, but they are backordered nearly everywhere.
Agree just wait on phono pre part til' TT/cart settled

You also may want to take a look at Nottingham. Right now you can get a 294 or Hyperspace for under $3K. Add a cartridge and you have a very nice system. Down the line you can add a different tonearm (generally considered to be the weakest part of the Nottingham) like SME, Graham, Moersch etc.. and you've kicked things up a notch to an extremely nice system. I've seen some real good prices on Nottinghams lately. I think some of this is due Nottingham being between US distributors. Nott's don't have a lot of "flash" or "buzz". They are just very solidly engineered tables that should last a long time.

OK - lots for me to think about here! A couple of suggestions on the Classic, a couple for the Nottinghams, plus some cart suggestions. That's a good start for me.

Thank you, everyone!

My VPI Classic is in a differnt league from the Scoutmaster Sig or the Aries I that I had previously. Much better sounding table.

For you budge pick one of many great cartridges, including the Sumiko Blackbird, or many of the Grado or Dynavectors

I have some radical advice for you: sell your Peachtree and new amp and get a very good integrated and separate phono stage and DAC. For about the same money as you're willing to spend on a TT + Cartridge + Arm, you could provide your speakers with amplification more befitting their abilities, while also upping your DAC and Phono stage. This is the versatile and forwarding thinking approach, as you'll squeeze more out of that TT+Cartridge than your current phon and amp are, plus, it'll allow you to upgrade to a different TT/cart in the future and appreciate an even bigger leap. If you blow your wad on the turntable and cartridge now, you're still left with a so-so phono stage, and and amplification component that seems somewhat mis-matched with your monitors. Sorry if this seems out of line, but that's what I'd do first. My usual chain of equipment is: speaker=>amp=>source=>music=>accesories.