JMW 10.5 vs SME V

I have an older SME V tonearm that I guess I will need to upgrade the bearings to make current. Ordering a classic and wondering how much worse/better/same/different the JMW 10.5 will be with my Grado Reference Sonata? Wondering if I should keep my SME V and "make it work" with the classic?

Anybody have experience dealing with the queue lever on the SME V? Mine won't go down by the lever unless I push it down first with the lever down, raise the lever and then lower the lever within 30 seconds or so. Otherwise I have to do the manual prep thing again.

Thanks