Benefits of a record ring

Pluses: straighten really warped records while in play, help heavy platter in maintaining speed, looks cool. Sound- increased focus, tight bass, enhanced details
Minuses: changes perfect analog sound to digital like sound by increasing focus, enhancing detail, tightening bass. If you drop it chances of serious damage to arm, cart, platter is great, looks tacky

Yes, difference in sound with ring on and off is NOT subtle

Not for me. I have Clearaudio outer limit ring, used as paper weight

I should add that my description is digital like is probabbly overstated and relative to with the ring off. In my system I just happen to find sound more musical (7 on scale of 1 to 10: 1 being extremly analytical and 10 being extremely warm) With ring on it changes to, in my system and IMO, to may be 5. I use it however for overly warped and warm recordings.

I am convinced that fundamental performance change happens when the ring is being used, either transferring resonances to the ring and or interact with record and platter interaction characteristics. However,someone in the know may prove me wrong ;-)