I'm glad it's working out for your boys
Philip, using the material you are for your SCT is a very good idea! The tube thickness of SCT's is very thin, as is the corrector plate. An SCT needs better insulation because is has such a small heat mass in its glass and tube. A Mak has a thick corrector, so it holds its heat better.
This idea is by no means mine! It's been developed by many other amateurs around the world who have been thinking differently about thermodynamics and how it applies to our scopes. Wavytone here in Oz has been an early adopter of this technique. Thing is some common ideas are often sorely mistaken in practice, and unless someone challenges the status quo, the same poor practices are continued and better practices are not adopted.
This technique by no means will totally eliminate dew from forming. Dew formation has so many variables, depending entirely on your location and the prevailing conditions of the night. However, in many instances it will stop dew, or slow its formation. And when dew does form, a little hair dryer set on is lowest heat setting is enough to dry whatever dew has formed. Just don't blast the optics with intense heat. If your hairdryer has a no-heat setting, this is even better.
Alex.