Collimation is realistically much more of a challenge in an F4 scope than F5 or F6. How well it holds of course depends more on scope construction.
I'm an astrophoto addict now using 4" refractor, but have never regretted starting with an 8" Newt, which don't ever plan to part with. Horses for courses, but agree people shouldn't be afraid of collimation.
Love the soft rounded stars from my refractor, but reflector stars have a charm of their own - albeit if the central part of star profiles is a bit "flat". Cost/aperture so much less for reflectors, you'll never need to be comparing a refractor with similar size Newt - the Newt will/should always be much bigger for same dollars.
Pardon colours from the older newt pic, but comparison of 4" refractor versus 8" Newt, same camera. (Refractor costs >20 times Newt
)
Refractor processing could have perhaps taken more contrast in processing, and total flat FOV much larger in non-cropped full image from the refractor, but comparing similar part of image Skywatcher Newt has nothing to be ashamed of
