Why is that "out of the running"? I have 12" arms fitted to my TD124s.
When I had G99s, I have to admit they were very good (one of which I sold to you with an SME 3009 arm, if you remember), but IMO the Thorens TD124s are in another class. The last time I head a 301 was probably thirty years ago and it wasn't for long, so I didn't have a chance form any real opinion of it.