There were always poorly executed examples of both.
When I bought my belt-driven Sansui SR222 MKII, I had to make this choice as there were a LOT of cheap direct-drive turntables around back then. (Especially the Sony PS range)
I went for the Sansui because it was made from solid particle board (no cheap, microphonic plastic plinth) and because it sounded and looked great! (Gloss black, clear lid, chromed 'S' shaped arm.)
The most popular example of a good DD was (and is) the Technics SL1200. but that utilised cast metal and solid rubber and was never a 'cheap' option even before the DJs 'discovered' it. It was always 'over-engineered' for a domestic turntable.
The mystery - to me - was how the Dual CS-505 ever managed to sound as good as it did. The original had a thin, hollow plastic plinth, wiggly arm, lightweight platter and a lot of extra bits and bobs for the auto-stop mechanism. (And it could play upsidedown - with a record clamp - due to the spring loaded tracking force and bias.) One of those successful 'freaks' that sounded good despite breaking the accepted rules of what should make a good turntable..