I believe the "cult" status of the MC201 was a figment of marketing imagination. It came after the FR1MK3F which did and still has such status. I purchased my MC201 in about 1985 because I could not afford the cost of the service replacement charge on my FR1MK3F that died at the time. It gave great service as my main cartridge until last year when I replaced it with another NOS MC201. Even if the MC201 did not have cult status, it certainly deserved it. It was a great performer for its very reasonable price.
The Koetsus are great cartridges, but if you could find a used or NOS FR1MK3F you might consider that instead at a vastly lower price.
I have also been casting around for longer term replacements. This wbesite "http://samurai-international.com/cartridge.html" caught my eye. I was wondering of anyone has experience of these Ikeda cartridges. I would hope that they would have some of the positive features of the FR cartridges.
The Koetsus are great cartridges, but if you could find a used or NOS FR1MK3F you might consider that instead at a vastly lower price.
I have also been casting around for longer term replacements. This wbesite "http://samurai-international.com/cartridge.html" caught my eye. I was wondering of anyone has experience of these Ikeda cartridges. I would hope that they would have some of the positive features of the FR cartridges.