Curved and Straight Tonearms

What "game" was changed by Rega pick-up arms?
I agree that the modern trend is definitely in favor of straight pipes.

As some have already noted, s shaped arms tend be higher mass designs.  The choice of arm  (mass being a key issue) is generally dictated by cartridge matching (compliance), so you're usually nudged toward the curved camp or the straight camp by your cartridge.

Beyond that, there are enough other issues at play (bearing design, adjustability, etc) that the issue is IMO low priority (beyond aesthetics).

Dear @ericsch : In reality there is no true/real advantage on those kind of tonearms. The real advantage belongs to tonearm design and excecution quality levels of that design and that's all.

Pivot bearing type can be a difference. Unipivot against fix ones. I prefer fixed ones.

How many cartridges do you own?


Regards and enjoy the Music Not Distortions.
R.

Raul, based on what I have learned over the last few years, I would also prefer a fixed pivot.
I am the original owner of 2 Shure cartidges: V15 Type V-MR and V15 Type V, both with Jico styli. I use these on my Denon DP 52-F.
For my Rega, I have the Elys that came with the table and a newer Exact 2 that I use now.
Like I mentioned earlier in this thread, I like Rega, but I want to move to a table with adjustable VTA. 
BTW, thanks to all who responded, very enlightening. 

Sorry to disappoint you guys but properties like stiffness depend greatly on type of material, mechanical properties of the material, length to diameter ratio, you can't just say J shape better than straight pipe or vice versa.  
Same goes for resonance.  There seems to be a lot of misconceptions about resonance which works to the advantage of people that market "tweaks" and cones.  There is no way to tell which shape will be better. The resonant frequency of an arm tube will change when coupled with the headshell, cartridge, stylus, arm bearings and mount. The system (arm assembly) resonance is the all important parameter here.