Hey Tony.
This whole thread was started while I was away, so I had some catching up to do
What's uncomfortable for you and your back about the dob? Is it the leaning over? It's true that by default you'll have to lean over when looking through your dob, but you'll still have to lean over (perhaps to a less extent) when looking through those LX200's or Celestrons.. you'll still be bent at the top of the back/neck looking down into an eyepiece. You can't really get away from it if you choose to stand while observing.
There are other options than a whole new scope though..
Buy or make an observing chair,
like I have done. These chairs are great for viewing with a dob, because with the adjustable height you can get a comfortable position where you're sitting, back isn't strained, and you can look for many minutes at a time through the eyepiece without getting strain on your back or neck. You can see heaps more detail when you're sitting comfortable and not wobbling around and having to stretch and stand up all the time.
Another option is to make (or buy) another base (or table) to sit your existing dob base on.. this will lift it up much higher so you can stand comfortably and not have to bend over much when looking through the eyepiece. Late_crataceous (forum member) has made one of these, it lifts it up about an extra 30cm.. do a forum search and you'll find his pictures.
As for astrophotography, I won't kid you and say it's easy to take photos through a dob, but it can be done easily.. it's simply that the results generally won't reach the same level that you will get with a computerised tracking scope. But that's really just the mount, not the scope. An EQ mount with your OTA will work fine for that.
But you just don't know yet whether you'll be
into astrophotography.. trying it with a dob is a good way to start, simply with a digital camera (or webcam) pointing straight into the eyepiece (or focuser). That's the method I use for all of the
images I've taken. It can be frustrating, but there's also a challenge in pushing your equipment to its limits. Astrophotography is really more photography than astronomy.. it takes a lot of time, patience, and money to do it well..
Anyway your background in computers and gaming is very similar to my own, but I didn't play CS or DOD
Skills in computers definitely can help in this hobby, as if you get into photography there's a lot of post-processing skills and techniques needed, and any background in computers and software will help.
With time on your hands and money at your disposal, I can see the reason for the direction you're choosing.. if I had the money i'd probably be looking at exactly the same scope(s), but I'd probably only be looking at them
now, rather than after only 2 weeks of owning the dob.
But with a mortgage and kids, my priorities in life are different and I can't afford to upgrade yet.. when I do I imagine i'll be getting a SkyScan EQ6 goto mount and keep my existing OTA..
Good luck anyway Tony, good to have some frank and open discussions!