I think a ring weight is great. I have a VPI and for many years I used a screw down clamp. The problem is that I always had to adjust the amount of pressure depending on the nature of any warp of a disk. Last year I switched to a TTWeights ring clamp and a center weight. I find that placing the ring and weight goes much easier than using the screw down clamp. You just plop them down and you're done; no adjustments. For me it's quicker. And the sound is noticeably improved. For one thing there is now more weight beyond the circumference of the platter giving extra fly wheel effect. The records are flattened and dampened. You don't want them "breathing," that is with air between them and the platter. I would never look back. As for bumping the stylus, I solved that completely with a small o-ring placed on the tonearm lift so that the stylus goes to the same exact spot on the lead-in grooves every time. Bumping is not an issue.
Ring Clamps. What do you think?
First let me say that I have not had the opportunity to hear a ring clamp. At a $1000 list price it is not a top priority. It would seem to me that the whole concept would be detrimental to good sound. Like an acoustic guitar, a record needs to breathe. Weight and air play a vital role. I do use a record clamp, wouldn't be caught dead without it, but a heavy metal ring laying on top of my album holding it down doesn't appeal to me. I could be wrong.