Any Linn LP12 owners in So Cal get the Karousel bearing upgrade?

@dover  What you just described tells me you were not an authorized Linn turntable dealer. Linn are very concerned ( rightly or wrongly) about protecting their Linn turntable specialists/stockists.. from their general Linn dealerships. 

@mabonn I posted my impressions on the new Karousel bearing in the members review section, it is a superb upgrade. If you believe mijostyn above, and really why would you, lol; then its time to trade in a superior turntable!
Anyhow, to answer your OP ( mijsotyn just couldnt bring himself to not post more negativity about a table that he hasn’t heard since yours was produced, lol) PM and I will give you my local San Diego county tech's info who is a Linn expert. ( and did a super job of installing my Karousel).
You will be more than happy with this upgrade!

@dover   There are a number of car mechanics on the various forums who also fancy themselves as experts at setting up the Linn turntable. All of them complain of the results that they get...I wonder why, hmmm. :0)

@dover  So, what happened?

@tzh21y I think ever since Linn did away with their US distributor, they have been somewhat struggling. IMO, they seem to underestimate the size and expanse of the US. My local fettler is an excellent Linn set up guy, yet they will not allow him to be a ’upgrade’ dealer, only a parts supplier..so long as it is part of a repair. The logic behind this is they are trying to protect their Linn turntable dealer...which makes great sense! EXCEPT this dealer is 200+ miles away! His impact, or the impact on him, is basically non-existant given the number of Linnies locally and the distances involved...yet they are not flexible in this regard...because I believe they have no real comprehension of the distances involved in the state/country. I have to believe that if they comprehended this more, then they would concede to the idea of having experienced Linn folks work and sell the table in all areas of the country. Plus, it would certainly increase their ’good will’ with their customers ( Future and current!).
Therefore, i can comprehend your points in your post-- except for the SQ difference between a fully set-up LP12 Radikal D and a VPI Scout :0)