Thanks for the informative replies all. I've decided to suck it up and stay on the dob path. For the money they really are great value. I spent a good amount of time collimating as exactly as I could, and my hard work paid off the other night viewing Saturn. WOW. plenty of cloud band detail and 2 (or was it 3?) moons nearby.
The only problem now is that I want to go bigger, with a solid tube 12" - and then mod the hell out of it for super smooth motion. Hopefully it will take care of my aperture fever for a few years (until I start lusting after a motor-driven 16" - hey, they might be affordable one day!).
Thanks again guys.
Cheers
Wade