Sadly, that did happen although the DD contender back then was the UK made (Japanese mech) JBE III Slate.
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...d/JBESlate.jpg
It was preferred by a group of listeners used in one of the magazines, there was uproar among the Linn selling advertisers and the conclusions were somehow re-written or subsequently dismissed. Presumably JBE had trouble finding stockists and closed not long afterwards. Someone like Howard or DSJR would probably remember this better. ( I only read the magazines about this 2 or 3 years after the event)
Interesting design though. Slate plinth, direct drive mech. Not much new under the sun even 25 years later!
It's stories like that, and the problems that companies with better designs like Pink Triangle, Dais & Townshend (amongst others) had gaining a foothold that irk people. More because progress was hindered while people swallowed the 'tune playing' nonsense for too long.