It's nice to know you do not think much of my first real turntable. I think it was an improvement on my previous Dansette and Westminster music systems, but your comments perhaps explain why I purchased a Cassette player/recorder and started buying cassettes, although this was also influenced by the ability to play them in the car.
I have no recollection of Pioneer PL12Ds from that time although I remember reading reviews of Linn LP12s, on reflection I probably should have bought a Linn although I guess I couldn't afford one, I reckon I was on about £35 a week. Can anyone remember how much an LP12 was in 1972?