Here's a 21st Century answer: (http://www.jr.com/veho/pe/VEH_VMS001/) You should be able to position the 'scope, and view the front/sides of your stylus, without dismounting the cartridge(still the best way though).
How and when to check stylus condition.
Looking for a litte practical advise about checking the condition of my stylus. My cartridge is a Sound Smith VPI Zephyr. The TT is a VPI classic w/ Classic 3 wand. I'm pretty sure I have well over a thousand hours on the stylus, maybe close to 2000 hours. My analogue section sounds great, but I wonder if the stylus is worn. As an aside, it was a bitch to set the carty up on my Classic, but once tuned in, it sings. Anyway can check the sylus without having to take everything apart? Who can check it and how is it done?