it began lifting too quicklyIf you still have it, you can ’slow it down’ by renewing the silicon gel. Easy job, as the raiser-piston pulls out, just be removing the little screw behind it. The silicon is sold for fixing cueing-devices, and fairly easy to find. I agree the lockdown wire is unnecessary. As for the price, used ones sell for that, or more, and now that the patent has expired, some knock-offs are double the price. Great little device; some complain it doesn’t work, but they just don’t know how.
As for OP’s invention, it’s brilliant... in some ways, e.g. the ascending spiral. The ’bar’ across the headshell needn’t be so massive; to me the weight is ugly (as is the bar — both are design overkill); it doesn't address edge-warp; and I’d prefer a clamp — it’s a firmer grip, pressure is adjustable, and why add mass to the bearing?
Sorry for the diss, OP. Honest feedback. If you think I’m wrong, by all means defend your creation. I wish you success, I love the idea, and if it were available in the simpler form described, I’d grab it.