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Having started astro-imaging on a C9.25 on a CG5 mount I would say it is do-able but not fun. The scope is very nice - but the mount is under whelming when it comes to its build, pointing and tracking precision and smart's of its hand controller.
If you have a DSLR you can do decent astro imaging with that to start with - once you figure a few things out.
A SCT at F/10 is a slow scope with a small field of view - think an object the size of full moon will be your maximum field of view - say 30 arc minutes - which is a fair but.
There are two 9.25 SCTs for sale in the classifieds at present - a carbon fibre version for $1500 - including a much needed high precision focuser (carbon fibre retains focus as the temperature drops beautifully) or a Edge HD one for $2100 - which will give coma free views. My personal preference would be the CF version given the subjects I like to image are near the centre of my images and coma is minimal until you get out to 80% away from the centre of the image.
For a 2K budget you could get a mid range 4" - 4.5" APO - so it depends what you want to image, a much faster APO will get a very nice scope that is a lot simpler to use and should be far more be trouble free.
A large SCT can also suffer mirror shift or flop - so you'll need a Off Axis Guider and a second guide camera if you want to take longer duration shots. That could set you back say $600 for the OAG and a simple guide camera.
I would skip the CG5 and either get a EQ6 for around $2K or consider the far more capable G11 for $3.5K that is currently for sale.
The 9.25 CF SCT + focuser + G11 + OAG + Guide camera runs to $6K but would be a killer set up that could really last well. Your budget I would say doesn't hit a natural price point sweet spot for a larger SCT. I can't stress enough with a large SCT get a very decent mount. A 3.5" = 4.5" APO will be simpler to learn with.
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