Avid makes a nice turntable, also over looked....the Avid ingenium plug and play with the Upgraded metal platter is a good value.
The music hall mmf-7.3 is also a very nice table, especially in Walnut with the 2m Bronze. Too bad the price is @ 2k with inflation and all.
If your a fan of direct drive, the Technics mk7 can still be had for $999, and it's now available in different colors. I bought one in black, just for the hell of it....it's a great table for the money.