I'm not sure who those 'influential' TT manufacturers might be nowadays. Pro-Ject maybe? Rega? Thorens even? They (and Technics) are perhaps the only ones still selling better quality turntables here in any quantity at all.

I think its more an issue of the reviewers simply not being aware of the potential of a device like the 1210. (HiFi World to their credit have at least done something with it.)
A fully loaded KAB turntable has to be imported by an individual. There's no margin in trying to distribute it here and therefore no economic imperative for anyone to get it reviewed. I suspect that someone in the UK could possibly market a similar package of mods to get the best from it and if that happened it might then get more attention.

Sadly, I don't think there's a wilful conspiracy of silence although there is probably a 'status quo' that doubtless some would prefer to remain undisturbed