OP, since you devoted a fair amount of space to describing the behavior of 1 nasty member, I think that you should finish the deal and name him. He will probably be upset but it would be of benefit to others here, and what the heck the two of you don’t have a relationship worth endangering at this juncture.
Analog is a secondary source for me, but after I busted the stylus off of a MC that became a $500 XMass ornament I’ve stuck with MM carts that are easier to replace. Luckily I haven’t had to. My priority is the midrange, where most of my music lives, and imho MMs can do quite well there