If a blind guy can use a Rega Planar 3 ...

could he also use a Planar 8?

Here's why I ask: Though I lost most all of my sight some 25 years ago now, retaining peripheral light perception but not much else, I regularly play records on a Planar 3. I know the drill, have the feel down, etc. But now I've got the upgrade itch, and was thinking about getting a Rega Planar 8, until I read about the dustcover, which has even plenty of sighted folks complaining about the difficulties presented in setting it on the table correctly without potentially causing real problems. Like smacking the dustcover into the cartridge, even. Yikes!

My question, especially for those who've got a Planar 8: Could you imagine that someone who operates in the world by touching things could position the dustcover on correctly by feel alone? (I'd have written "Could you imagine placing the dustcover on correctly with your eyes closed," but that would likely seem impossible, as would most things I now routinely do after two and a half decades of practice.) I understand that there's a locator pin to position it correctly. Could one perhaps feel that, feel also the hole or slot it fits into, and go from there, or would such an operation be too perilous?

Which leads to this: If the Planar 8 proves to be impractical for a blind music lover who enjoys spinning records -- yes, I also play CDs and stream -- should I simply settle for a Planar 6, which would have the familiarity (in shape and design), or are there alternatives -- let's say of not more than $4,00 for TT and cartridge -- I should consider? I'll add this: What some folks consider a real drawback of Rega 'tables, their lack of adjustability, is a definite benefit for me. The closer to plug-and-play, the better. My wife, who is a professor, is terrifically smart, but her strengths lie in the humanities, not in turntable setup. A turntable we can get at a shop, can have them set up fully, and that we can transport back home, perhaps resting comfortably on a comforter on the backseat (and that isn't likely to go out of song in so doing) would be preferable. That's what we did with the P3, and would rule out, say, a Linn LP12, to use just one obvious example.

Sorry for the longwinded post, but I figured more information than less would be best in such a situation.

And thanks so very much for any help you good folk can provide. As I said, I know I could play CDs or stream, both of which I do plenty, but I do still like playing records, have a decent-sized collection, and would like to upgrade from the P3.

-- Howard