Reply to digitization & audio restoration: audacity vs. for-pay software

(OOPS, wrong sub. I wanted this is music production.)

So I wanna digitize and restore a bunch of vinyls and a few tapes. It's old stuff not available on CD or as a download. Quality of the analog material varies: many records are near mint, but a few are barely acceptable.

I want good results and recently upgraded my cartridge and invested in a phono preamp. In the past, I digitized records used audacity as my software.

Going forward, do you believe I should stick to audacity or should I invest in a for-pay software?

If you believe that audacity isn't good enough, please advise which software I should buy. Currently, I'm confused by all the options: Sound Forge, Wavelab, Audio Audition, izotope, ... It's okay if the software you recommend has a bit of a learning curve. It doesn't have to be two mouse clicks and done. But it shouldn't be rocket science, either. And I'd prefer purchasing a single product, I don't wanna have to buy a gazillion plug-ins.

I know this issue has been discussed many times elsewhere but I'm believeing I'll get better responses here on DJTT than on a vinyl community where people believe in audiophile voodoo.