I guess it doesn't get much mention because It's hard to tell how much is break-in and how much is tuning. On the one hand, the platter bearing, the belt, the tonearm bearings, and the cartridge suspension are all breaking in. At the same time, the cables are running in and charging up, or whatever suits your cable theory. And at the same time, there is user tuning, playing with all the things you mentioned and more--VTF, VTA, tracking alignment, azimuth, leveling, platforming, isolation, damping... So with so many simultaneously changing variables, the scientific method goes out the window and all you can do is wait, listen, tweak, rinse and repeat.
I'll tell you this: I share your experience on a more prosaic, inexpensive level. I got a Technics DD turntable at the beginning of March, and at this point I don't think anybody would have guessed it could sound the way it does now, which is to say rhythmic, dynamic, involving, organic. When I asked my wife, she admitted she never dreamed the turntable I pulled out of the box in March would sound the way it does now (in a good way).
I'll tell you this: I share your experience on a more prosaic, inexpensive level. I got a Technics DD turntable at the beginning of March, and at this point I don't think anybody would have guessed it could sound the way it does now, which is to say rhythmic, dynamic, involving, organic. When I asked my wife, she admitted she never dreamed the turntable I pulled out of the box in March would sound the way it does now (in a good way).