Mike what you, and others here have said about DSO imaging is quite correct, I know, as I'm going through it as well, but it is fun.
And a permanent set up certainly makes a hell of a difference.
I know what you mean about not finding a guide star at times, bright enough to guide on, I too have that problem from time to time.
I sort of get around it while the set up is in Guiding mode, and any corrections with the mount after centering the object is very small.
I just use the hand controller and move the mount a little, and watch as a star appears, works for me, but then i do very strange things when it comes to imaging.
Leon