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FWIW, I started out with a GSO 200f4 with a steel OTA. It needed a complete rebuild to get reliable image quality (tube strengthening, mirror holder modified, new focuser etc), but it eventually worked pretty well (has a nice mirror).
Upgraded to a 250f4 Skywatcher carbon fibre and, with a digital focuser add-on, it was OK out of the box. It has required a couple of tweaks and a Moonlite focuser to get the best possible results, but the overall design was pretty good to start with (apart from the black paint in the tube - it dissolves in dew).
The Skywatcher is more stable with temperature than the GSO - could be the mirror material or the CF tube, but it makes focusing a bit less of a chore.
In summary, neither is top shelf gear out of the box, but the Skywatcher started out closer to "very good" than the GSO. The optics in both are impressive - the GSO is possibly just ahead in mirror figure, but both are able to resolve down to the atmospheric seeing limit with no trouble.
How much work do you want to do to get a good scope?
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