You certainly could get another 2mm or so by rolling off the grips, & that would do no violence to them. I also thought about filing the side off one of them (Scott's one, obviously
).
They are worth multiples of the scope's value, especially since it was assembled from odds & ends & cheap components. I had visions of the whole thing blowing over & making an extremely expensive noise, since it was blowing a gale. I removed the light baffles so it wouldn't blow away.
The bad news is: I do think it is worth it. This scope's standard eyepiece set is a pair of Type 6s, but the Ethoi experience was significantly different. Or wait until the inevitable clones come out?
Phil