The replaceable styli of some MM cartridges is the main feature you’d lose and there are a few well regarded cartridges from Ortofon, Goldring (with derivatives from Audionote UK and Roksan), Nagaoka, etc that have this feature. As you’ve not needed to make use of this with the 2M black maybe it doesn’t matter that much. Turning to MCs there is a fashion for having the cantilever hanging out the front where it’s most vulnerable. Lyra do this and so do some others including the Regas you mention, though they at least give it some protection with a wire loop above it. Other MCs have the cantilever tucked underneath out of harms way, one of particular note might be the Dynavector 17DX which has a very short diamond cantilever, I ran a couple of its predecessors and they were very good at surviving mishandling. They worked well in a Rega arm too. Most other MCs have either an aluminium or boron cantilever that’s considerably longer, though there are some sapphire ones about and even a couple with cactus spines. Boron breaks and aluminium bends but either will mean a rebuild should that happen, Dynavector will only offer an exchange on a 17Dx. For those that have a rebuild option the cost can vary quite a bit as a proportion of the new cartridge price so check that when considering. Soundsmith, though not MC, make some that have a similarly low output and are very reasonable in this respect.
Generally speaking, are MC cartridges more delicate than MMs?
Here's why I ask: I'm planning, finally, to get my retirement turntable. My one concern: I'm blind. I've used a Rega Planar 3 for many years without difficulty, though on the rarest of occasions I come up a tad short when cueing up a record and the stylus slides off the platter until I quickly lift the lever and set things right. Not great, obviously, but this is, as I said, rare. And so far has caused no obvious problems. I'm using an Ortofon 2M Black at the moment.
Suppose I were to get a better Rega (Planar 6 or 8) with, say, an Ania Pro. If the same sort of mishap were to occur, would it be likely to be a complete disaster, ruining the cartridge forever and leaving me out of luck and out of music, or would it be more likely to be just like what I described with the setup I've got now?
Thanks for any help anyone can provide.
-- Howard