Also, this is the first turntable I've come across that doesn't spin freely when you manually push the wheel. It feels loose enough if I keep my finger on it and turn it around, but if I give it a good whirl and let go, it goes around at best one full turn. I don't see anything obstructing it underneath and I've applied some oil to it but that didn't do much. Is this a clue to something or are some turntables just like that?

If direct drive, the platter should spin freely with no power applied. If driven by an idler wheel, it probably shouldn't unless the speed selector is positioned between 33 and 45, where the wheel is transitioning between drive surfaces.