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Pete, I would try your damnedest to avoid the dreaded aperture fever,
and let logic and reason guide your purchase. No matter what size scope
you get, there is always the chance that you will get to look through a bigger/better one, and be envious of it's owner.
Rule no.1 The best scope is the one that gets used. I used to teach a
basic adult astronomy course, and several of my keener students bought
scopes ranging from 12" to 16". One year later all had been sold.
Large/heavy scopes demand commitment. You can pop outside easily
any time with an 8" and, if you are reasonably strong, a 10" also.
12" to 16" can start to become a chore, and anything larger than that,
depending on it's type of construction, can become a labour of Hercules.
In short [a bit late for that], an 8" is a great compromise scope which should keep you happy until or if you decide to go larger.
Sorry about the verbal diarrhoea.
raymo
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