RCM recommendations

Sbrown,
I'm sorry but I'm a bit skeptical, to say the least, about your experiment. The actual cleaning is done by hand, not the 16.5. Considering how strong the vacuum is on the VPI machine, I seriously doubt it leaves residue that would progressively degrade the sound of the records cleaned with it. Perhaps you need to perfect your cleaning technique or use different brushes. I also seriously question paying well over $2000 for a cleaning machine for an individual use unless you're very rich. I've used the VPI machine and it's a fantastic performer for the price.

Sbrown,
Would I like a $2500 RCM better than a $600 RCM? I certainly would and should. I know I would also like a $300 stylus gauge that tells me the VTF to five decimal points better than a $70 one that only tells me only three decimal points (God forbid I used the Shure!). However, just as I don't think you need to get the VTF correct to the fifth decimal point to get fantastic sound out of your vinyl I also don't believe a $2500 RCM is necessary to get a record clean enough to have a superb sound as opposed to a $600 RCM. In fact, a lot of vinyl lovers don't even own a RCM and it doesn't stop them from enjoying their collections.

I think it's doing the OP a disservice to be putting down a $650 RCM (pricier than some of the decent tt/cart combos for beginners available on the market) when he's been cleaning his record without a vacuum pump at all.

I have no doubt your RCM is great.