I finally get it!

I’ve owned four VPI tables (two currently), but all without VPI arms. I’ve had a few uni-pivots and a Well Tempered, but just don’t like their "feel". The VPI platter spindle/bearing is machined to pretty high tolerances (no play/slop), as are their really good platters. Steve, I have a spare Zeta if you want to try a classic. ;-)

slaw-
VPI has their metal work done by MDI, a very competent machine shop in NJ, so I don't think it is machining tolerances.  VPI assembles the parts, made by other companies for them, so it may be an assembly error.

From what I can tell, part of the problem is HW never put much importance on S2P measurements:

https://www.audioasylum.com/cgi/t.mpl?f=vinyl&m=1122027


This is a strange position to take for a turntable mfr, but  it might explain a lot.  IMHO, HW doesn't really understand tonearm geometry.  He has touted a 14" tonearm with no offset and claims it has no skating force and two null points; both assertions are incorrect (the math to prove this is trivial).  He posted that he discovered the benefits of no headshell offset by twisting the cartridge on an overhung tonearm with offset until the cantilever was aligned with the arm tube and the sound was "jaw-dropping".  I think the only thing that would be jaw-dropping would be the distortion as the tracking error would be ~17° and the distortion would be approaching 20%.

The Spindle to pivot distance is specific to the arm being used. What you complain of is typical of VPI's tolerances. You would be best served by replacing that arm with something like an Origin Live arm. The platter and bearing are fine (VPI  does not make them.) Isolation of the plinth is not good but you can deal with that by putting a sprung platform under it. 
VPIs best product is their DD table with a gimbal bearing Fat Boy.  

Hi all. I finally went through my set-up yesterday allowing for the factory malfunction and have to say, everything is sounding better than ever.
I think this is important for VPI owners to understand.