While we're brand snobbing, I've got a QHY9 on a Tak, and frankly the 9 is a wonderful rendition of the 8300 chip, regardless of what people may worry. Double cooled CCDs in an outside environment can be touchy beasts at times, and I believe you will find plenty of non-QHY owners still have to get their cameras serviced unexpectedly. Ultimately any camera is limited by the ability of the photographer wielding it. Someone should have told
JPM(Astro Anarchy) a QHY9 was a poor choice.
Speaking of support, Theo from Gama Electronics (local QHY dealer) really does his best to look after customers.
Hope you save some $$ soon Jeremy. Moving to a cooled CCD from uncooled APS-C DSLR was a (fun) revelation in my astrophotography journey.
p.s. Don't be in a hurry to unload your HEQ5Pro if its working well for you - most of my recent work was FSQ/QHY9/HEQ5 with an OAG and very happy with star roundness - a nicely portable and under-rated mount, albeit no AP or Software Bisque masterpiece.