Some very good info SMB1, however I don't accept all of your statements.

For example, your comment
"an articulated truck to handle between 30-40 pallets per hour in most circumstances and I think that it is fair to say that exceeds any expectations of reach, VNA or Swing mast"

In my opinion, nothing is faster than a guided man-up turret for standard pallets in selective pallet rack. A Swing mast is also pretty **** quick.

And in your "Reach trucks are inherently more prone to damaging goods and racking compared with an articulated truck," comment, you fail to mention that a guided turret truck would be even less likely to damage goods than either a reach or an articulated.

The big advantages I see to articulated trucks (Bendi, Aisle Master) is the flexibility (both literal and figurative). Not only are they capable of loading/unloading trucks, but they are also capable of handling wider loads in narrow aisle racking (something that turrets can't do).

Overall, comparing reaches to swing masts to articulated trucks to turrets is tricky because they each do certain things better than the others and there are numerous variables that have to be considered.
Turrets are great if you have standard pallets and enough transaction volume to justify the much higher costs associated with a guided turret system. With a turret system you get the narrowest aisles and the fastest throughput.
Articulated lifts are more flexible (as previously stated) and offer narrow aisle capabilities (though not as narrow as a turret) at a lower cost. This makes them more attractive to smaller warehouse (typical warehouses) and operations with more diverse needs.
Swingmasts operate somewhere in between a turret and an articulated lift. Great for standardized pallets in warehouses where a turret would be cost-prohibitive and racking heights are reasonable.
Reach trucks? Well I've never really been a fan of reach trucks. Unless you have double-deep application, I just don't see much advantage to reach trucks.