Thank you all for contributions.
I have enjoyed checking in occasionally, all the while selling off items on eBay which will form the budget for this next scope.
That is the deal I have made with my significant other, and I commend it to you all in the interests of marital harmony
My research has arrived at a theory, and at the expense of missing out a few brand names, here it goes.
For about 80-85mm of aperture:
Takahashi around $3K
Borg around $2k
Vixen around $1k.
So, about $1000 between these three brands, all of which are made in Japan.
Would it be fair to say that there is less than $1000 worth of 'quality' difference (lets assume quality to represent build, optics, focuser quality/durability) between Takahashi and Borg?
Because thats where my thinking is at, and why I have approached Ted from Borg Japan to give me a quote.
The above numbers forget clamshells, and the various other proprietary bits and pieces each of those manufacturers require before I can get any of these scopes onto any type of mount.
I fear the issue of import duties of course, but notwithstanding that potential problem, I feel some assimilation with Borg. Sorry about that.
Hope you're all having a good day, and the meteorological gods clear the skies for another gaze up at the moon this evening.
Ivan