Once I heard the difference that no a/s offered it clearly meant me taking off the a/s gizmo from my 3D arm. What I hear is center soloists are much more clearly delineated.... no bleed left or right...the soloist is clearly right there. Once I could hear that, i noticed that all the other instruments had their place in the sound space....much more air around the instruments, etc. I recommend everyone interested to just try no a/s and listen critically, and make your own assessments.
VTA adjustment is (to me) very tricky. ...but be sure to readjust your vtf at each adjustment. This took me about a month of listening, adjust, etc. Its well worth the time it takes. When you are through adjusting, then check to see if the stylus is in the proper position on the measuring device (Mint, metal VPI guage, etc.)...chances are it has changed.
My experience with vtf....there is one absolutely correct vtf that was engineered into the cartridge. At this optimum, the magnets, coils of wire, etc. are in their proper position to extract what the designer had intended. After all this adjusting, you just may be battle worn and allow it to be "close"...
