Macrojack, I question your conclusion. I think a better read is that both belt and direct drive can work wonderfully, but it really depends on the implementation. One is not really better, each simply has a different set of compromises.
Is Direct Drive Really Better?
I've been reading and hearing more and more about the superiority of direct drive because it drives the platter rather than dragging it along by belt. It actually makes some sense if you think about cars. Belt drives rely on momentum from a heavy platter to cruise through tight spots. Direct drive actually powers the platter. Opinions?