CS
I've just lost a long detailed reply to this
when I tried to do a message preview , so I'll have another go later if I can summon the time.
The general tone of your post was the old chessnut about `little apparent bang for buck' with premium optics . Well I guess the concept of `bang for buck' applies more appropriately to budget telescopes. It was quite reasonable for Astroron to at least mention my service as the original poster didn't say anything about a preference for budget optics or otherwise. Its not common for beginning ATMeres to build a premium scope as their first project, but It does happen.
I can currently do a fast cooling 16" Conical mirror for significantly less than the cost of importing from a US specialist in them and am not in the business of competing with mass production optics using cheap materials. I exist because I can offer something specific to a project, with guaranteed quality and highest quality materials. When people want something very specific , like a 32mm thick 18" hyperboloid at F3.66 it is a custom optician that they come to. Its only when cottage industry specialists are gone that anyone will really miss the service that they do.
Mark