Any recommendation for a modern FM tuner

Personally, I would be VERY interested in the 504 if I was looking for a new tuner; Very nice tuner indeed! Have you read on it at http://www.fmtunerinfo.com? This tuner would fall in between old vs. new, actually more towards new; it was introduced in '93

What is your price range?

Back in the '70s and early '80s tuners were very popular and companies focused more on making a good tuner, therefore there are many good tuners from that era.

Magnum Dynalab devotes themselves, for the most part, to making tuners therefore they make a quality tuner, but IMO you will have to pay a lot more than you would for a vintage tuner, and depending on the vintage tuner, the vintage may be better. Some of these vintage tuners were quite expensive in their day.

Meridian and Linn make very good tuners, though I am not sure if they have any in their current line-up.

7671, though I believe your tuner is a quality tuner, see my comments above, those 'expensive features' that you call gadgets are actually 'vital' componants of a good tuner.

7671, It is great that you are pleased with your Meridian, but these features have a very real purpose, no mater how good a tuner is. You state that you haven't had a tuner with these features, therefore you haven't had the experience to see their use.

7671, it appears to me, in lieu of your last words, you don't like someone disagreeing with you. Furthermore, it is clear that you do not have an understanding of these features on tuners, there isn't a tuner made that cannot benefit from these options, it is just the nature of FM and its many radio stations.