The "ungrooved record test" has absolutely no correlation to a proper anti-skating force . . . actually, it has absolutely no meaning at all, especially with an elliptical or fine-line stylus.
This is because any reasonably modern elliptical stylus profile doesn't actually touch the groove on its very point, rather, there are two discrete points on the sides where it contacts each groove wall . . . these are plainly visible when the stylus is viewed under a microscope. So when you stick it on a record that has no grooves, the part of the stylus that's touching the record is NOT what's used when playing the record, so it's tracking behavior is completely indeterminate.
The best way to fine-tune antiskating with a test record is by checking trackability - both channels should reach their limits of distortion-free tracking performance at the same horizontal groove velocity. I'm assuming that this is what you're doing.
With regards to cueing difficulty -- I do think that some cartridge/tonearm combinations are more fussy than others, but I think that it's more about the interaction of many different parameters (i.e. cartridge compliance vs. tonearm mass) in addition to stylus profile and anti-skating adjustment. Of course, different shapes in the profile of the record's edge also have an effect, and even the grippiness of the rubber on the little shoe used in the tonearm's cueing device (if used) can make this more difficult.
I will echo the others' advice and re-check your setup parameters, but if it's all spot on and everything sounds great, then you might just need to cue by hand.
This is because any reasonably modern elliptical stylus profile doesn't actually touch the groove on its very point, rather, there are two discrete points on the sides where it contacts each groove wall . . . these are plainly visible when the stylus is viewed under a microscope. So when you stick it on a record that has no grooves, the part of the stylus that's touching the record is NOT what's used when playing the record, so it's tracking behavior is completely indeterminate.
The best way to fine-tune antiskating with a test record is by checking trackability - both channels should reach their limits of distortion-free tracking performance at the same horizontal groove velocity. I'm assuming that this is what you're doing.
With regards to cueing difficulty -- I do think that some cartridge/tonearm combinations are more fussy than others, but I think that it's more about the interaction of many different parameters (i.e. cartridge compliance vs. tonearm mass) in addition to stylus profile and anti-skating adjustment. Of course, different shapes in the profile of the record's edge also have an effect, and even the grippiness of the rubber on the little shoe used in the tonearm's cueing device (if used) can make this more difficult.
I will echo the others' advice and re-check your setup parameters, but if it's all spot on and everything sounds great, then you might just need to cue by hand.