Direct drive vs belt vs rim vs idler arm

Oxford University entrance exam question:
1. If this is the question, then what is the answer?
2. How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?
Or if you are torturing poor Dustin Hoffman:
'Is it safe?'
The Rockport Sirius 3 was direct drive, and is often considered the 'final destination' of turntables - I have heard one and that was all too brief. Against this is the belt drive Continuum.
I have said, in recent posts, that as my hearing changes, it has shifted from being obsessed with imaging and soundstage, towards timing to which I am more sensitive at the moment. I am convinced that each drive has a 'sound'. Direct Drive may be the most neutral - or what we think is neutral. Belt Drive the quietest and best imagers,idlers (from what I have heard so far' really do time brilliantly and have superb bass).
I personally think that neutrality is quite possibly audiophiles most ludicrous and intangible concept. Most musicians I have spoken to say that all they want is for listeners to feel connected to and to enjoy the music, and if the medium of delivery achieves that, then that medium has done its' task. To that end we ultimately want a system that keeps us in our seat listening to music until far too late in the evening.

I was making generalizations, and i have to say that the DPS 2 has superb timing for instance, plus excellent imaging. The SME 10 and 20 (not heard the 30) are 'neutral' so to speak. Of course certain decks of course cross boundaries.
I am currently awaiting a Jeremy Marine bearing for a Lenco L75, and am gonna either: get a second hand Townshend Avalon so I can steal the trough, or alternatively I might get such a trough machined for me. I personally think the Townshend trough is just revelatory.

What is quite interesting is that there is a clear shift in the direction of higher torque designs. Do bear in mind that Nottingham Analogue go for a high mass low torque design that transmits as little vibration as possible. Likewise the Linn LP12 is not exactly a high torque motor, nor is the one on the townshend rock I recently acquired. That said all three of these decks sound excellent in their own way. A truly circular (hope you don't mind the pun) discussion. As I have said earlier my hearing has changed (or the grass is greener on the other side) and i am beginning to favour the high torque drive and boogie woogie of an idler.

I never said that the Linn and Nottingham are the same - I was saying they have the similarity of being low torque designs and sounding excellent 'IN THEIR OWN WAY'. I have to say I was never a Linnie myself, however, I heard one with all the Funk Mods and thought it sounded wonderful - I never thought I would ever say that.

I am not sure if anyone has touched upon it, but in absolute terms, virtually every review I've read on Direct Drives say that stage width has a tendency to being narrower. Is this due to the fact that the motor is directly beneath the platter, and the magnetism has an effect on the upward downward portion of the record groove (the Stereo bit)
Not only that but I am curious as to whether or not anyone has tried lifting and butchering a direct drive deck other than the Technics SL1200's - I say this because quite a few such as numark ttx's have really good specs

I find that a fair point about the Sp10 mk3 having a torquier motor due to the heavy platter. It's engineered for purpose so to speak. the ratio of power to weight comes in mind and with it the EMT analogy that a needle/stylus is like driving a car up a hill - if it is small and powerful it can overcome obstacles and undulations quicker and better than say a truck. It is for this reason the EMT 950 platter weighs very little - so I guess it has a very high power to weight ratio. Simply put a single factor of itself needn't and often is not the only factor in an equation.