id pick phd over guidedog......ive used both extensively.
Guidecamera a mono if possible
various programs... phd, deepskystacker, photoshop, registax, starrynight-older enthusiast version (all free if you hunt around)... as a minimum
Now you are learning about black holes cos thats where the money goes..... never to be seen again, and it will suck more out of you the longer you participate...... just stay above the event horizon , apparently RC telescopes, paramounts and 16 megapixel ccd cameras lurk around there
cheers clive.