KAB does have a vested interest in the 1200 MK11. Heck, most of his business is centered around it. I doubt he would support any new table over the 1200 MK11.
my exact take on the subject.
glt
If KAB lost a good deal of business selling new SL-1200s that were carefully inspected, set-up, and modified, why would he not do the same to the Pioneers? I don't see how he would lose any Technics business and he could pick up a lot of new Pioneer sales.
By your argument, he must have somehow benefited from the end of SL-1200 production. I might agree if they were still making the Techie.