I see in the latest Andrews add in S&S that the 16" is described as having a wonderful 1/2 wave primary mirror.
That's not even diffraction limited
Well, I suppose it was too much to hope for a good 16" mirror at that price. I hope that Meade do a better job.
On the other hand, it does more closely follow John Dobsons original paradigm of building a big cheap poorly made, poorly performing light gathering machine that can at least cut through the city lights sufficiently to show a faint fuzzy to a passing stranger who knows no better!