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Yes I can get a 12" DOB for under $1000, but I have to seriously question my enthuasism in using it in the long term as opposed to a simple set-up and goto type scope.
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You don't have to buy a 12" Dob. They also make 8 or 10" ones these days.
And they will be simpler to set up then goto scopes with much less aperture. An 8" Dob is a very capable, mobile, grab and go scope. Setup involves pulling it out and plonking it on the ground. Just about anything on a tripod will be more work to set up. (I used to own an ED80 on an EQ5 and it was a lot more work to pull out and set up than my 8" Dob.)
But it sounds to me that you really have your heart set on a goto scope. You'll probably need to spend a bit more. Under $1000 you'll be hard pressed to find anything with enough aperture that will goto to too many objects you can actually see in any detail. And those objects you can see well with the small aperture you could probably find easily without the goto anyway.
Dob + push-to object locator computer might be something to consider also.