Vinyl need not be vintage. I myself don't get vintage. Except for maybe Quad which always had slightly avant style together with Braun, the seventies stuff does nothing for me.
It is of course all in the eye of the beholder and what aesthetic feel you want in an environment.
I prefer the plain black and even coloured Rega look by far to the wood trim for eg. My favorite Rega is the black with the textured "gramophone" finish.
Anyways, affordable phonos close too. Still deciding on selling them stock or CTI...