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Hi Trent,
Both the 8" and the 10" are good scopes, size wise. The difference between the two is their f/ratio. The 8" is f/6, the 10" is f/4.7. It is like closing down the diaphram of your camera. It improves contrast, but the image is dimmer. So, more light or more contrast is your question. I've used both f/ratios in scopes, in 8" and 10". Where the f/6 is better for the planets, for faint fuzzies, the faster the better, so f/4.7 for me. You can also stop down an f/4.7 scope to what ever ratio you care for, but you can't make a slow scope fast.
The foot print between the two is pretty much the same. What ever hassels you may have transporting one you will with the other, same focal length.
Before you lay down your cash, I suggest you try to get to some 'star party' and see what I mean about the image brightness. Sure a big scope will show more stars, but that is not the only thing. You really will see a differnce when you look through an f/6 and an f/4.5 or f/4.7 regardless of scope size. Really.
Know what you get before you buy, and what suits you better.
Mental.
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