Similar story to BLACKMASS here.
25 years+ with an LP12 that I bought because, er, well that's what you had to do according to the mags I read. But thanks to lack of funds and then the system being boxed up and out of use for 15 of them I never got too far down the upgrade path - just a Hercules, new cartridge and a service when it came out of storage.
Then the itch came back and I started off planning a new arm and maybe a Cirkus, but having read the same threads - including yours
@BLACKMASS - thought that that way led to effort (to understand and choose between all the upgrade options that were new to me) and expense, so hearing good things about WTL, liking their style and the distinct lack of upgrades decided to try one.
A used Amadeus became available locally at a good price and sounded great to me at the seller's house, but honestly I was quite lazy and didn't listen to any other decks (neither have I since I bought the LP12) and went purely on what I picked up from reading everything I could find. Sacrilege eh?
I'm very happy with it and can't see me hankering for anything else any time soon, but I really don't know how it (or my system either for that matter) stacks up against anything else. It sounds so good to me that I've stopped caring. Still got the old fruitbox though and lately have been enjoying it anew, even with a cheapo MM on it.
My point? Apart from the sound I'm happier with a deck that doesn't have suspension that is easily damaged or knocked out of whack and doesn't have lots of expensive upgrades to tempt me. I can change cartridge without taking the arm off or risking killing the bearings, I've got gloop and enough invisible thread to make new belts until long after I'm dead.