I'm bemused by the fact that keyboard cowboys who have never heard a product know so much about it. No one has to buy a better turntable. If you don't want to spend $300,000 don't!
Turntables, unlike cars, or boats are not mass produced. Everything on them is expensive. If you can make one as good, but for less money, put yourself in the upper class building one and then finding someone dumb enough to buy it.