Joe, If your observing interest are visual, I'd go with a dob. With good optics and good collimation the views are spectacular at a dark site. Collimation is not a problem once you learn how to do it. If you want to get into astro-photography then get the SCT with a good mount. I prefer the GEM mount over the fork mount. Personally, I think there are better designs for astro-photography such as the Mak-Cass or Mak-Newtonian but of course these are more expensive. Tracking platforms work well with dobsonians and most people are pleased with their performance. You can always buy one later. The important thing is to put your money into good optics and to be real careful with them. You don't want to be dropping things on your primary. My mirror box weighs about 60 lbs. This is about the limit for me for handling a large scope. Traveling with this size scope is not a problem but it performs best at a dark site. I took mine down to Texas in '98 and had a blast. Debbie