Develop a hierarchy for phono playback

Agree on the role of 'platter mat'!

How about the record 'puck'?

Dust cover?

What about splitting some components into small sub-systems?  Some cartridges can take several stylus profiles which can make a big difference.

Then there is the plinth, if it is not standard, and whatever supports it ...

Simply choosing a cartridge for which it's compliance and mass matches that of your tonearm's regardless of cost before even attempting a proper alignment.

@intactaudio 

I think you left the most important factor off your list and that is cartridge alignment.  It may ruffle some feathers but a properly aligned $500 cartridge will sound better than a casually aligned $5000 cartridge.

 

From an interview of HiEnd News with Robert Suchy (Clearaudio CEO): "To summarize, the suggested order of priority for upgrades is: first, the cartridge; second, the turntable and phono stage; third, the tonearm; and last, the power supply."    https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hiendnews.gr%2Fclearaudios-robert-suchy-ceo-interview-august-2024-english-edition%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAYnJpZBEwcDBtV0dPS1Y1OTUzN25DTAEeOtip-fXJ4kGi3Vjyh5k815ODbMec6Tf1Ctt1WDQMqLKTyANJYin620NuYYM_aem_ecf4yiImhkGDTt9tt6IESA&h=AT0cIz9VNfd5je7vGRAdF_uZvlKX49BDpRZBD9Du_OZlV9Qefd7QPdH7EEmHFVNPMIpMRfObbiFJ0szI0mCcOpaNUA0GbVe9GGURWLJlV68hWDgj2Z7_NCZtwxg2tpm4gKA&__tn__=%2CmH-y-R&c[0]=AT0P-V5s2Z8fW9vsGSPnWyr3cZVjQfOrv62KNRS1a3ntkwOKfCoNhsPFqrc9f2pTq3r9iG_AlDIw5D9fT1ZxNPMBcdg1bRi6LNK13OMG3xa1r6oh-DNFe2cgQI6nW2-4eicZ0pZCVzKY2PSSf1faxzEH5Y426e5rq14TrJjq-4S4e5dDzzgrMfwX4fXnhGwz1LDb98kXHTef86QQeb4Bhupq

The order can change depending on what components you are using and what is the overall price points a person is targeting. If a person is getting into LOMC land then I would move the SUT way up the list. 

Interesting to see two different philosophies here on whether the cartridge comes first or last.

Like loudspeakers, the cartridge does make a big difference to the character of the sound. However, that is more a matter of taste than ultimate sound quality.

I’d go with the source first hierarchy of turntable, arm, cartridge and phono stage.

The turntable if upgradeable like an LP12 could be further broken down into say bearing, power supply and sub-chassis. In the case of the LP12, the Bedrok plinth may have just put the cat amongst the pigeons.