FWIW, Thorens continue to make decks (for the "Far Eastern" marrket, at least) and Garrard appear to be in rude health with the 501, 601 and the really excellent Missing Link phono stages (which are a serious bargain for what you get), oh yes and and the RCM and L'Art du Son concentrate, not to mention the 301 and 401 restoration work and the various plinths and motors. I suspect they ahve a larger turnover than quite a few higher-profile TT makers.

The VPI Scout I've heard seemed good, but it wasn't a miracle deck by any means.

I don't think VPI is unjustly ignored by the British any more than Nottingham is by dumb Yanks or the even more sonically challenged Japanese ;-)