The point is that Technics make a deck that in standard trim is similar to, if opposite to, a Rega 3 - the Rega having a good and profitable arm on a just acceptable platform...
Not quite, Dave... The Rega is more like a Fisher Price toy compared to the Technics

Tonearm aside, in terms of engineering, it's like comparing a Dansette to an EMT!

I don't even particularly rate the tonearm and think that in standard form the RB250 or 300 is one of the most overrated, over-hyped items ever to enter the hi-fi market. It's 'ok' when used with one of Rega's so-so MM cartridges, but with anything else it sounds grey, bland, and rather boring.

The likes of a Jelco SA-250T (used by Martin T) or any high quality 'S-shaped' Japanese arm, past or present, pisses all over it in my experience. And the myriad of 'tweaked' versions don't compare to the likes of a Jelco SA-750D or an SME M2 or 309 (sorry Shuggs!) The M2, in particular, is as underrated as the Rega is overrated.

In my opinion, people have been brainwashed by the hi-fi press and dealers nearly as much with Rega tonearms (and their T/Ts to an extent) as they have with LP12s and the whole bloody belt-drive tune-playing 'superiority' bollocks!!

There; that should get some people going

Marco.