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Hi peter.
The ibot firewire may have done the job, as long as you can remove the lens and attach an adapter.
However since you've bought the ToUcam, you may as well use it and play around with it. When you gain experience, then you can give the other webcam a try - though if you want a webcam for actual use in or around your computer, then you won't want to fiddle with it taking the lens out.
The long-exposure mod is useful is you want to start taking deep-space shots, obviously you need an accurate tracking mount for this. Seeker has a similarly modified ToUcam (the Atik version) and takes some great shots with his ETX. If you just want to start on the planets and the moon (much less time consuming and difficult to get right), then don't worry about the long-exposure mod for now.
As for the IR filter, you don't necessarily *need* one, but apparently the images come out better with one. I've yet to see a definitive with/without comparison taken on the same night, same settings, same conditions, but i'm going to perform that test in the very near future.
The $60 IR filter is blue, I bought it, and didn't like it. All your images will come out blue. I replaced it with the $120 edmund scientific one, which is neutral colour and the images come out in the natural colour.
As for settings during capture etc, Paul will be able to help you, and it'll be much easier to show you in person. He can even help to show you how to process your images after, because the capture is only worth about 40% of the final image.
Can't wait to see the results taken through your tak!
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