I've been using a DIY 8 ounce weight (Thorens TD125 MkII) for 20 years without any noticeable decline in sound quality (the deck/bearing seem to be fine).
I tried a few heavier (some much heavier) commercial weights, but did not care for the sound (decline in harmonics/reverb), but mine is a "sprung" deck.
Give a light weight/weight a try.
For my taste I prefer the contact between the weight/record to be hard/solid (no leather, felt or other soft interfaces).
I suspect that I might be satisfied with an even lighter weight, but never got around to experimenting.
My DIY weight is a small Mapleshade brass cone mounted to a Thorens 45 rpm adapter (oddly the diameter of the cone and the adapter are the same).
DeKay