I recently purchased the premium 12-inch dob from Bintel which I converted to an equatorial mount to use for astrophotography (see
www.skylab.com.au/pmsa/ ).
I can say these things about the 'scope:
The 2-inch crayford focuser is possibly the smoothest and best focuser I've ever had my hands on. It has a focusing locking screw and tension adjustment.
The optics are very good to excellent both visually and photographically.
I have little problem carrying the scope (~20kgs), although it is big to crapple. I would not like to have to carry it around frequently and I can't see myself lifting in during retirement age.
The contrast of the telescope is low but can be vastly improved by installing your own light baffles.
The eyepieces that come with the telescope are okay but I don't think they really do the telescope justice. They show lots of coma in the visual field. When I used Televue eyepieces instead the sights are very impressive indeed and the eyepiece induced coma (I think thats what you call it) all but disappears.
I'm basically tickled pink with the 'scope, especially for that price.
Hope this helps.