importance of phono cartridge

Yes and yes, IMO. On the other hand, I feel it's more cost effective to put the money into a good/great TT. You can always upgrade the cartridge when you're able, plus there are many moderately priced cartridges that will give you 80% of the performance of the most expensive ones, expecially when installed in a better TT/tonearm.

Doug: "reference caliber mediocrity.' Truly poetic; I don't think even Oscar Wilde could have said it better!

Doublebass, I have an all-Purist (Venustas) system from the tonearm cable to the power cord, and I must say, it's the shit, man! But my FIRST Purist cable was the ($1800) tonearm cable (I was using a vdH Frog at the time, w/ a vdH Silver Hybrid TA cable) and I felt it was a respectable setup. Well FAGEDDABOUDIT! When I put in that Purist TA cable, I thought somebody snuck in a Colibri on me when I wasn't looking............

Nrchy, you are quite right; "won't add back what the cartridge didn't get from the LP"

However, with regard to the original post, I do believe in giving any cartridge the opportunity to 'be all that it can be,' which brings us back to the TT and TA as the place to put the lion's share of one's available resources first, and upgrading cartridge, cables, phono preamp, as money permits.