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Hi Sandy,
I also would go for the 10" Meade, it has at least three things going for it:
The ACF optics are superb, much better than your typical SCT
More aperture
Better mount for visual work
To explain:
The ACF optics are the next step for SCT's, they look great edge to edge and are better suited to Astrophotography, when you make that step (as you intimated you are going to).
More aperture is best for visual, and the 10" is the biggest step up in terms of light gathering power (i.e. comparing 8 with10, 10 with 12 etc.). It's also easily managed by one person, as long as you don't have a smallish car (like mine) it'll travel in it's box with you.
The Meade fork mount may be derided by some here, but it's a good compromise between visual and astrophotography (with a wedge). Visual in Alt/Az is a breeze and unless what you want to look at is at zenith, then it's easy on you back as well. When the time comes and you want to go into photography, it's still OK for planetary, and the wedge makes it OK for all the other stuff. Much easier than a GEM to learn how to use as well.
Cheers
Stuart
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