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From what I've been able to gather, short style barlow lenses use newer technology glass elements to allow them to be shorter. This new glass also tends to provide better quality images.
The $30 GSO barlow is of decent quality, for occasional use. I doubt good enough for photo quality.
The Andrews' plossls you mention are cheap eyepieces. As cheap as eyepieces get. I wouldn't really think they would be too good in the quality that I would be looking for. By that I mean:
*not "fully multi-coated" to minimise internal refections and optimse light transmission.
*The glass elements would not have thier edges blackened
*utilise the cheapest glass, hence reduce light transmission and struggle to provide good focus of the entire spectrum of light
*narrow field of view- objects drift through the viewing area too quickly
*poor eyerelief- you will need to park you cornea on the eye lens to view through the short focal length EPs.
These eyepieces fill a niche. That is why they are there. The GSO super plossls are a little better.
If you want to upgrade, spend some money on something a little higher than these, not necessarily big bucks. You will get more enjoyment from the scope. Unfortunately, many eyepieces can cost more than the scopes we use.
The GSO Superview range is very good for thier price. Short focal length eyepieces are notoriously difficult to use- short eyerelief. If you can't afford $100+ on a decent one of 5mm, get a barlow to use on a 10mm plossl. Otherwise you will struggle to use them, especially novices.
Mental.
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