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Similarly to you, I had a 60mm Tasco when I was about 8 which was not much good for anything. About 10 or so years ago I got back into astronomy by purchasing a Celestron C8NGT, computerised 8" Newtonian on an equatorial mount. I found this scope an excellent starting point. Being a Newtonian, collimation is quite simple...collimating an SCT is much more difficult, so the CPC would be a challenge. I have seen a couple of 130's and they are not much more than a toy.
For ease of use, you probably can't go past an 8" Dob of some sort, although you will have to spend time finding things. I guess it depends a lot on what you want to do. I have always used my scopes to show things to the public, so I don't have time to search objects out....hence the computerised mount.
I am sure others on the forum will give you further advice...just stay away from toys and try to buy it from a place who specialises in telescopes rather than electronics or clothing!
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