Hi DJDD,
to IIS!
You're on the right tracking - looking through a few different scopes before you buy.
Can you make it up to Albury/Wodonga next week? There's the Border Stargaze starparty, and you'll get the best opportunity to look through a whole heap of different scopes and meet some great people (I'll be there
).
Click on the link on the right hand side near the bottom to go to their website.
Keep asking questions!