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I have the Celestron C8N-GT, which is the same scope you are looking at. I am not sure, but I assume the GoTo mount is much the same as the non goto version. I have found no problems with the scope since I purchased it 18 months ago.
Tripod:
Any vibrations stop within a second or so, indicating the mount is quite sturdy. It does however take three loads to get the whole assembly outside, the tripod is light enough that a child above about 12 or 13 could lift it. When assembled, one person can move it...but only for a few metres. I have never needed to extend the legs and so cannot comment if this affects the stability.
Scope:
Again no problems, in fact last year the whole tube fell of the mount and fell onto the lawn. Other than a bent finder bracket, there was no other damage to the scope, it may have been a different story had I set it up in the driveway. I think this shows that the mounting of the mirror must be quite sturdy! I have replaced the rack and pinion focusser with a Crayford because I found it difficult to obtain an accurate focus, but this may be present on all R&P's any way. Setting up the scope and getting it balanced is quite straight forward, the appropriate knobs are in a suitable position when you are fiddling in the dark. As for the quality of the optics, even when I first got the scope is produced quite clear views of the planets and stars...I did not attempt to collimate it for several months. Since "dropping" and recollimating it still produces nice clear images, the main drawback is the quality of the eyepieces I have (I bought a kit) and am in the process of upgrading. The one that came with it was an "OK" 20mm, but you will probably want an eyepiece with something around 10mm or so and another around 30 to give a change in the view.
Transportation is not easy as I only have a Sonata (mid size). The tube fits, just, along the length of the boot. After the rest of the stuff is packed, there is not much room left though. The mount is easy to detatch from the tripod and comes in a padded box for easy transport.
Overall? I like it, especially the GoTo! I have had more than a dozen friends view Jupiter and Saturn and every one gives a gasp and a wow!
As for what an 8" will show you? In the suburbs you will get good views of the Orion Nebula, Omega Centauri will fill the view with stars, a full moon will blind you, Venus will be a white featureless smudge, you will be able to clearly see the belts of Jupiter (on just a couple of occasions I have been able to see the GRS...just, but it doesn't appear red) and the rings of Saturn will astound you. One thing that is present in all German Equatorial Mounts (GEM) is that the eyepiece can be pointing directly at the ground for one object and directly at the sky for the next, so you will need to be prepared for a little discomfort at times, after a while you get to know which locations in the sky will put the eyepiece in a reasonable position.
I hope this helps, someone else should be able to give you their views on a SkyWatcher. I think you will be pleased with either scope.
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