Can't set rake angle right even lowest VTA (digital microscope checked)


Following Michael Fremer's instruction (makes sense) to set up stylus rake angle with digital microscope (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otysEyET6yE) and found that with lowest VTA setting, my angle is 96 degrees (from starting point of 102 degrees! when arm is parallel to the record with the target of 92 +/-1 degree). Cartridge is Ortofon Kontrapunkt C (recommended VTA 20 degrees, now at 23 degrees), VPI 10.5" arm. It definitely sounds a whole lot better esp mid range and high but arm/stylus almost had no clearance to the record. This is weird and I shouldn't need to set the height at the bottom of the tonearm tower. Tracking weight is 2.6 gm within recommended range.
Thoughts are appreciated.
goldeneardoc
WIth the tonearm tail as low as it can go, the stylus is 4-degrees from vertical (90-degrees)?  
If you look at the stylus from the side, does it lean to the front or rear of the tonearm?  
I have a picture, just can’t upload here. Stylus leans too much forward to the front of the arm by 4 degrees. I can try to add 0.1 gm of tracking force and see if the angle is better.
So if you raise the tail to level the needle must lean forward by an extreme amount then - 6 degrees or so?  
Something is not right with that cantilever- possibly bent downward.