I underestimated the impact a new cartridge would have

dynavectors are just wonderful... they and benz’s are my faves among a few random others

been thru many others (art9, koetsu, shelter, zyx (ugh)) - come back home to my glider, gull wing and xx2 and tkr

I started out in the 1960s and '70s with MM cartridges including a top of the line Shure V-15.  Using first a Garrard changer, then Miracord 50H, and, bought in Hong Kong on R&R in 1969, a Thorens TD 125 turntable with Shure SME 3009 tonearm, efforts were made to achieve better reproduction.  Despite these turntable upgrades, there was little, if any, improvement.
In 2001, a VPI TNT 3.5 with 10" JMW Memorial tonearm and a Grado moving iron cartridge were acquired with little enhancement.  Transition to a Shelter MC cartridge occurred in about 2005 with a Clearaudio Concerto cartridge followed by a Clearaudio Stradivari V2.  The MC cartridges did offer noticeably better reproduction, but at a cost in the case of the Stradivari of over $3,500.
A couple of years ago, I read a very favorable review of the HANA low output MC cartridge.  Since there was by then quite a bit of stylus time on the Stradivari, I bought the HANA.SL for just $750.  I was amazed at the improvement.  For the first time, I realized what was recorded on an LP; it was far more "life-like" than I heard on vinyl before and on CDs, too, for that matter.  The accuracy of the sound and the ambience was as close to live reproduction I had heard.
When the HANA ML came out, I bought one.  It was surprising to find that as good as the SL was, the ML was noticeably better. There is no longer any impetus to continue the search for a better phono cartridge, although the Hana Umami Red Moving Coil Cartridge is tempting.  It's price is in the neighborhood of the Stradivari, though, which is intimidating.

In my experience, the phono cartridge is the most significant determinant of sound quality in record reproduction.  The phono preamp is the next most significant.  It is with pride I mention that mine is the third and latest that I have designed and constructed.  It is just a two-stage affair with low-noise BJT input stage and MOSFET output stage, yet in testing done at a famous high-end audio manufacturer, was noted to be surprisingly low-noise, additionally tracking the RIAA curve with little deviation.
The two preceding designs had JFET input stages, but a low-noise BJT is a better choice when the output impedance of the driver (phono cartridge) is low.  This is the case with with MC cartridges.

I’m a budget audiophile like Dana, and all of the equipment in my system was used (Pioneer PL-600 -> McIntosh MX110z -> Yamaha M65 -> early 80’s Cornwalls).
I remember when I finally broke down and got a Denon MC cart, the DL-160, which replaced an AT440L, which is a fairly good tracker. The difference for me was immense, and I never went back. Unfortunately, they don’t make the DL-160, so once it wore out, I had to replace it with a Denon DL-301, which I didn’t quite as well. Since then, I’ve had Soundsmith retip the DL-160, and I can’t imagine how I could improve that without spending hundreds of dollars I don’t have.

To help people get the fever, like they did in the pure analog days..we had to have ’budget MM’s that blew people away’. The kind that have the flavours, the hints, the smells... that made people realize that there was really something fabulous in those record grooves.

I find that some of the budget cartridges today are real under performers. Or, conversely..that we don’t have the choices we used to have, where you could find that mind blowing mid-low cost cart that really shakes things up.

It is also a problem of R&D and money over time. As in sales numbers. To get to the juicy mid level MM’s that really sing, the manufacturer needs volume.

Or... the situation needs some modern technology to provide a small time manufacturer with the opportunity to take some innovation and apply it on a small scale in a viable manner. And bring that quality of the analog audio market back. So people can get the opportunity to really understand what analog is all about.

On a personal note, I’ve been trying to get to that point, for over 15 years. And now, modern technology provides that ’chance’. So, Teo now does MM cartridges.

Dana, that is the hook, the thought that there is something better. How do you know what you are getting? At best it is an educated crap shoot as in your case you took your friends advice. 
What is the most accurate cartridge and what is the best sounding one are two very different issues.
I have 24/192 downloads and vinyl of the same material. I'll match volumes and compare. The Clearaudio Da Vinci and Ortofon Windfeld Ti sound almost identical to the download. The Da Vinci is perhaps a bit more dynamic and a tad brighter than the Ortofon. The Clearaudio Charisma which I just purchased is obviously darker, larger and a lot more dynamic than the files. I think it is safe to say the Da Vinci and Windfeld Ti are more accurate but boy when it comes to rock the Charisma is so endearing. When you listen to it doing The Red Hot Chili Peppers who cares if it is accurate or not.
Now you have an additional problem when you start liking different cartridges for different music. Two Tonearms? Two Turntables? Two phono amps? Are you going to change cartridges every time you switch genres? 
My best advice unless you are filthy rich is, ignorance is bliss. Enjoy your Benz  and stay where you are until it shows signs of wear then do your educated crap shoot again.