SL1200 is better than pretty much all the low to mid-end belt drives from Rega, Pro-ject, etc. So if they could bring it back then it would give folks solid direct drive option. And like you mentioned their DD motors could be put into higher-end choice akin to the SP10 to match with modern arms.

Tell you what. From all the videos I've seen, the Super OEM DD motor seems superior to the SL1200 (assuming it lasts). Superior torque figures all around for one. At this point, that's all I'm interested in. I can deal with platters, plinths and arms on my own. That's how I see it.

Not that I know of, but that's the direction I'm looking to go. It was either that or a SP10 rebuild which seemed more $$ and complex in the long run. I suppose it depends on your priorities.

Here's a comparison of the SL1200 DD motor v. a Reloop (Super OEM) DD motor. Apples to Apples.

OK, here's some dummy questions as I'm digging deep into this:

1: Between my Rega RP6/Ortofon Black cartidge and my Rega Fono MM pre-amp, there is a very high noise floor. I've tried some other preamps (notably all cheap) and it the noise doesn't go away. Is that a cartridge issue or is that a I have only tried cheap pre-amps?

2: My Yggy sounds considerably better than my setup. Is a MC cartridge the best way to level up here? And does that require a complete replacement of my tonearm? And if that's the case, I should probably get another table (yay, more tables!).

From what I've read at least, the Fono MM is pretty good as far as MM preamps go. The fixed 100pF loading is a bit under what Ortofon recommends for the 2M series (150-300) but the additional capacitance from the cable would likely be enough to push you up into that range, and in any case, shouldn't account for the noise floor issue.

Rega arms are typically good with around 4-11g carts, and the 2M Black is right in the middle there, 7.2g. My first guess would probably be that your problem is VTA. The 2M Black uses a Shibata stylus that's very sensitive to VTA, and since Rega's attitude to VTA adjustment is "lulz, what's that?" you'll need a shim if you don't already have one. I believe Ortofon recommends a 3.2mm shim, but you can check with them.

Other than that, re-check your alignment. You could definitely beat the 2M Black with something like a Miyajima Takumi or Goldring Legacy MC, but those will obviously require a new Phono pre, and high-end, low output MCs demand a good one. Figure on at LEAST something like a MS Phonomena. And if you're going to do all THAT, you might maaaaybe think about changing tables instead. Keep the Black, keep the Rega Fono, and maybe try something like a Funk Firm LSD?

My Yggy sounds considerably better than my setup. Is a MC cartridge the best way to level up here? And does that require a complete replacement of my tonearm? And if that's the case, I should probably get another table (yay, more tables!).

MC cart, until you realize that a better tonearm is needed to take advantage of the resolution of cart that you choose, then pre-amp since you realize your old pre-amp was crap, then you start hearing motor and/or bearing noise which means better table (motor, bearings), then you realize you need better blackness, so a precision motor to control RPM or a massive plinth and/or platter. Then you realize you need special wires from the cart to your phono-pre. Then you want super expensive transformers on your phono-pre to get the last bits of low-level information. Then you start all over again.

I do not recommend taking the path of vinyl.

Also, you'll discover your own preferences and hit dead-ends were you will need to do turn-arounds: direct drive or belt drive, long or not so long tonearms or linear tracking, heavy or light tonearms, appropriate carts to go with the tonearms, suspension or heavy mass, etc. There are advantages and disadvantages to each approach. Some approaches start off better, but don't scale as much once you get into uber-land.