Designers have preferred routes to a given goal and they should all be respected, all the more once one understands reasons for choices, sometimes difficult, sometimes not always clear that have to be made.
I absolutely agree, Arthur. If I were to predict anything about the forthcoming comparison between both platters, it would be that neither is likely to be 'superior' overall. However, we shall see.

My suspicion though is that this modification will be subject to achieving synergy with the existing ancillary items on a modified SL-1200/1210, the same as any others to date, and in that respect, choice for each individual will depend on a number of factors. And choice is indeed good!

It is, after all, about marrying the respective sonic signatures of the component parts of the turntable, in order to create a 'musical whole', which is precisely how I build not only my version of a modified Techy, but also my whole system - and therefore there are many variables to consider

As I'm sure you'll agree, one must look at modifying the Technics in terms of creating a system, and not merely a collection of disparate parts.

There is one key variable, however, I feel which could heavily influence the outcome of comparisons between platters, and that is which off-board power supply the respective T/Ts being tested are using. In my experience, upgrading the existing PSU on an SL-1200/1210 has the single most significant impact on its sonic performance, closely followed by the bearing and platter, as essentially all heavily influence the behaviour of the drive system.

As you know, there are now quite a few different off-board PSUs on the market for the Technics, all of which will impose their own 'character' on the final sound (or cause the T/T to 'behave' in a certain way, sonically) - and it is the success of this 'relationship' between the PSU and chosen platter, symbiotic or otherwise, that I feel will be highly significant, not to mention the effect of the bearings used (depending on their design), which will also be very influential.

There are, as far as I know, four types of bearing currently to choose from: the stock Technics one, the Timestep one, the Vantage Audio one, and Mike New's - all of which to varying degrees impose their mechanical influence on the sonic performance of the T/T.

A holistic™ approach (descriptive term copyright of Dave Cawley ), as ever, will be key to achieving the desired result, and with it, superlative sonic performance.

In that respect, may I ask which PSU and bearing were used on your sample T/T to carry out the preliminary tests with the new acrylic platter?

Marco.