Am I a hopeless audio snob?

AMG also make fast Mercedes Benz’s.

Your choice, like my choices, is the natural result of your past audio experience. Thus it’s very personal. I’m glad you didn’t just follow a dealer’s advice blindly, as one might have inferred. Congratulations.

so I don’t get why you started a thread based on a swipe at Technics and Japanese products in general without at least also mentioning your extensive prior experience and knowledge and that you probably never had any interest in a Technics TT. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

I was in the same situation 2 yrs ago, I ask my friend what TT he can recommend, He said go VPI , clear audio, I look into it, I end up buying SME 10, I am super happy with this choice, A year later I saw uncle Kevin talking about Vpi Prime scout with blem video,  I purchased VPI tt with blem for my second system,  white color from Uncle Kevin. Happy as well.Audio is a choice choose what makes you happy, as long as there is budget.

I've got a $4000 Technics turntable, and it is great! It may look like a 'DJ turntable', but underneath the hood, it most certainly is not. And you'd need to be a pretty strong DJ to haul this thing around! 

Audio snob? I think not. If I were in a position to upgrade my turntable I'd go with an AMG. In the mean time I'm sticking with old Denon and Pioneer tables.

I think your fine and you should get whatever makes you happy. Looks are certainly an issue, so it’s your money, you need to be happy with all aspects of your purchase.