Why hasnt a turntable manufacturer produced a table with automatic tonearm return/shutoff?

Early this year I restored an old automatic Dual turntable from the 1970's era.  All I can say is a lot of German engineering, parts, and production cost all went into this feature.  It detracts from reliability and the quality of more important parts like the tonearm and drive system at a given price point.

   Pro-Ject has 2 automatic turntable options. One is $499 and the more expensive option is just over $1000. Decent quality and most of them come with usable, if not spectacular MM cartridges.

I would think that a device to raise the arm at the end of play would be quite easy. Simply When the arm reaches the inner groove, it triggers a sensor that raise the arm. However, a device that moves the arm back to it staring position would be much more problematic, as it would require physical interaction with a delicate arm structure.

I often read opinions about the use of a USB connection from the streamer to the DAC as being inferior. In my opinion, it all depends on the design and how much time and attention was invested in the USB input. I would make the radical assumption that this principle also applies to turntables. If I were looking at a $300,00.00 turntable with an automatic tonearm lift, I would expect that the tonearm mechanism was designed so that it didn’t compromise the sound quality of the turntable. The Thorens TD160 and the TD145 MK1 are the same turntable except the TD145 has an automatic tonearm lift at the end of the record. They both look the same and they sound the same. I bought a TD145 MK1 around 2011 for $200.00 as a project. So far I’ve done everything to it except install a better tonearm. The auto lift no longer works but either way, it doesn’t sound any different. Anyway, I like to think that I have an open mind. That being said, if I were to spend $6,000.00 on a VPI turntable, I wouldn’t want an auto lift.

What's the point of an auto tonearm return?  Having a cartridge in the run-out groove causes essentially no wear to the cartridge or the turntable.  How long are we talking about?  A few minutes, a half hour, overnight?  I'm less comfortable with overnight, but I still argue that it has no negative effect on the cartridge/turntable. 

Raising the tonearm and/or returning it to the rest position involves Rube Goldberg type mechanisms.  Probably a negative effect on sound quality and an increased risk of breakage.  Stopping the platter from continuing to rotate could involve a relatively simple photo sensitive electronic switch.  Would that solve most people's concerns?