Hey Suzy
I have the 10" collapsible Dob, and I think its/shes great. Easier to manage and transport and lighter, as you said. i have no problems. Easy to collapse and set up again.
They keep their collimation
very well, which is great as I am a hopeless collimater person.
I had friends make me shroud to help protect from light and dust. You need a shroud as light can get in when viewing, esp public nights, whooaa!! they are dear to buy so get one made if you go down that track
After use, you collapse it, so no dust can get in anyway. It comes with (well mine did) a good Dob cap for the first section of scope, and a flimsy cap for top, which keeps falling off. A good protection for dobs is to snuggle thm into a sleeping bag for protection after use, and store them horizontal.
No more dew problems than normal, which is horrendous up here!!!
I love the look of the black diamond finish on mine, but whatever you like you can get girl.
Good luck, and keep researching.