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You could get the 12" on the GEM with a G-star EX camera in the focuser. The G-star series cameras use frame integration, meaning that it automatically stacks the frames on the fly. When you first center your target, the image on the screen will be a little dim, but after a few seconds it will start to gather detail and bring out some more of the darker features...
These cams can effectively give you a MUCH better view of DSO's than your eyes ever could.
For photography with a 12" on a GEM, the mount would have to be pretty substantial. A losmandy G11 would be a good choice, but I would only go up from there.. anything less just wont have the stability required.
If you went with an EQ6 pro, you can forget about dso photography except of the stillest of still nights... Autoguiding with a camera would help, but the accuracy of the mounts tracking will fall as the payload rate rises, and now you're talking about a 12" OTA, a guidescope, guide cam, imaging cam, 2 sets of rings, 3 dovetail bars... pushing all kinds of weight limits for the EQ6..
I've had my mount going remote from the comfort of my lounge room...
The setup.
Mount -> Laptop -> wireless network -> desktop pc inside.
set it all up manually, aligned... then went inside. Using RDP (remote desktop protocol) I took control of the laptop from inside, fired up the sky, and established a connection to the mount. used the sky to acquire a target. Then, using MaximDL I fired off a 30second test shot to check focus/comosition of the image. (the focuser driven with a FCUSB from shoestring astronomy) I used ASCOM drivers to alter the mounts position in order to get the composition I wanted, after getting that all sorted I set up an imaging run, fired it off and watched the images as they started coming out of the camera... It was nice, but I think I prefer being out there with the setup.. (especially considering with my LONG refractor, I like to keep an eye on it, as the focuser/camera reaches to the legs of the mount at certain angles and would do serious damage to the mounts motors if it were to hit it...
You're entire plan would be fine, if you were able to get the extra $$ together for the G11 instead of an EQ6... Maybe save for a bit longer (if you can handle the weight)
Alternatively, a 10" OTA would be fine on the EQ6, would not require expensive custom made rings, wouldnt require so much counter weight in order to balance...
No matter which way you look at it, there are sacrifices to be made... Its up to you.
You would need extra counter weights (dumbell weights would be better) and custom made rings to mount the tube.
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