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What an extraordinary statement to make, Phillip. You really believe it is pointless?
For thirty years I've been looking through scopes. The first 20 of which I only used alt az/dob mounts and charts. What this taught me was how to use a scope, how to find any target, and most importantly how to see. None of which a go-to system will do for you. Not one. I've had go-to systems too, and in the end I ditched them as they were only a hinderance, not an advance for me.
You may fool yourself that you are learning with a go-to. But you're missing out on the true training that our mind gets when put upto a task it needs to work out for itself. It is those fine motor skills and observation techniques that a go-to system will never do for you. The end result is you miss out on a whole lot more than you could. To profess otherwise shows what you've missed out on.
The greatest service you can do to someone starting out in astronomy is to guide them into the methods that will teaching them the most at the start. Sure it can be a pain in the neck, but the skills that are pickup up will allow them to make better use of an automated system, and allow them to identify and solve problems. To ask what problems again shows what you've missed out on.
6", 8", 10", 12"... ??? Aaron, you originally mentioned interest in an 8" scope. This shows you've had some consideration on what to get. I think an 8" is a great first scope. Is it too large? No, but then I don't know your situation.
I think you're on the right path scope wise. But before you lay your money down, if you only follow one thing written in your thread, it's to get yourself to a star party or astro club and see a range of different scopes for yourself. Only then will you be best able to gauge what would best suit you. You'll see what a push-pull offers and a go-to system. How large they are, and how complex they are to set up. If you then decide on a 16" Meade SCT with all the bells and whistles and that makes you coffee too, then that is great, as it is an informed decision. If you decide on your original 8" dob, great too as again it is an informed decision. A good retailer is a good place to start too. But just be aware that the scopes there are already set up and all look reeeaaaalllll good in a showroom. An in-the-field experience is even better.
Mental.
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