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Great project Jeff. Regarding the mount Id recommend a fork mount, as with the GEM you have to do meridial flips with long imaging runs. Thats a real pain in the bum, and takes up valuable imaging time getting the flip just right. Guide stars have to be re aquired and the frame has to be aligned with the previous ones.
The Keller correctors are great, and though expensive, result in a system thats still far cheaper than a RCOSS type scope and much faster photographically, opening the way for deep narrorband imaging, or just going very deep in LRGB in a reasonable amount of time.
From your very dark site (which makes Wiruna look light polluted by comparison), a fast corrected Newtonian with a fork mount could do 6+ hour uninterrupted runs on one area producing mega deep results.
For a big aperture reflector, Id look at active cooling for the primary mirror. to get the mirror temp as close as possible to ambient nighttime temps to get the best possible seeing. One fella in the Newcastle society was looking at a small refegerated airconditioner blowing cold air over the back of his 24 inch mirror to cool it down to nighttime temps before starting observations.
Cheers.
Scott
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