I like the Ovation, but yeah -- it’s going to be hard to say that a focus on cartridge, phono stage, and/or isolation wouldn’t net you more gains per $ for now (though Hana ML should be a pretty solid match already). You also already made a GREAT move dumping that Clarify for a Tracer!
Perhaps set sights on a bigger upgrade (e.g. Innovation Compact) for a longer/later timeline. Your dealer might even temp you with a nicely priced demo model at some point? Jumping up one step at a time isn’t as fun as it seems -- the Clearaudio lineup has a LOT of small-ish steps all the way up, the upside being that more people can initially find the "right" table for their budget, but the downside being that navigating upgrades can be nebulous, as you’ve found out.
Perhaps set sights on a bigger upgrade (e.g. Innovation Compact) for a longer/later timeline. Your dealer might even temp you with a nicely priced demo model at some point? Jumping up one step at a time isn’t as fun as it seems -- the Clearaudio lineup has a LOT of small-ish steps all the way up, the upside being that more people can initially find the "right" table for their budget, but the downside being that navigating upgrades can be nebulous, as you’ve found out.