I started my hobby in 1988, using setting circles on an alt/az mount, the astronomical equivelant of crank starting your car, today I drive a nice shiny electric start car and love it, gadgets maketh the astronomer, I would never go back, I like to spend my time looking at stuff, not looking for stuff. Having said that, the dobbie has set me back a bit but I use the goto as a pointer now for the dob.