Am I totally nuts or just a bit off?

I agree with Schubert. I always feel more like I'm listening to live music when I listen to mono--especially classical. Maybe this is because I always sit in the nose-bleed seats at classical concerts, so there is no left, right, center, etc. to the sound.

I think that you are totally nuts. The Shure, designed for 78RPM wide grooves, not mono LPs, has a stylus with a diameter of 65 um. The correct size mono stylus for the mono records that you are playing is around 25 um, but not any larger than 35 um. I believe that you are risking groove damage using this sized stylus.

I think that, if you get a mono cartridge with a properly sized stylus you will enjoy your LPs much more. Grado, Ortofon or even the Denon 102 should fit the bill and not break the bank.

Good mono recordings can be a very special audio treat.

Your madness must be stopped. I will help. Send me all those records for proper disposal.
I will not even charge for my services out of the goodness in my heart for your sad condition.
PS send the cart along too...

Send Liz the turntable, as well. Cranking the old Victrola is getting her cranky. HA