Largest Impact - Arm or Cart?

Selling your Origin nets you under $1000. Add your available $1000 and you can't make a significant upgrade.

You're in the same situation with the cartridge.

If it were me, I would save more money and buy a used killer tonearm.

A great tonearm with an average cartridge will outperform an average tonearm with a great cartridge all day long.

IMO of course.

Assuming you sell the M2 (retails around $1300) for $500 and add the pocket burning $1000, you're basically back to the cost of the M2.

Contrary to the other recommendations, you'll need to drop over $1500 plus the proceeds of the M2 to make a significant upgrade which would be the likes of a Zyx Airy 2, Zyx Airy 3, Sumiko Celebration, Lyra Helikon, etc.

The Encounter is hardly an overachiever and sells for $1600+ not $2000.

Good move on the tonearm upgrade decision Pawlowski. The Encounter is a serviceable piece but you'll notice a big difference with a serious tonearm, even with the M2

I suggest you look for a used Tri-Planar, SME, or Schroder from a seller with strong feedback. No need to buy new.

Good luck.