Yes, I did :-)


Including thoroughly relubing the pickup kicker worm gear with a low viscosity
grease, such as molytone, and blowing compressed air directly into the pickup
for about ten seconds?

If so, and you are confident that the optical pickup is bad, then I don't know
what to say. There won't be cheaper sources for replacement pickups unless you
find a parts PS-2 with a good pickup. You may have to buy a replacement pickup
at the price you've found. - Reinhart