[Waxing_Gibbous (Peter)]

My 2 cents here. I have the TSA 120 and coudn't be happier. However this is the 2nd copy as the first one was woeful - worse than any Chinese scope I've used. Fortunately it was quickly replaced w/o fuss by OPT.

The AT 130 is a fairly new scope, but already they are appearing on A-Mart and CN at knock-down prices, leading one to believe that they are perhaps not the AP killers they're made out to be. I believe that AT quality control is quite good if not excellent. Its just that their bar is lower than APs or Tak's or TEC's.
I would steer clear of the TMB 130's as (IMHO) they aren't worth the cash and are merely playing off the Thomas Back name. Quality is variable at best and there are quite a few duff ones.
If a TEC 140 comes up for <5k, buy it!! Its the best refractor I've ever looked through; including its AP competition.
As Greg points out the f6 focal length of the AT is really pretty short for visual use while the f7.5 of the TAK makes it near perfect. Also at just over 6KG (7KG with EP, diagonal and finder)its fairly easy to shift around can still be considered a viable "grab and go" scope.
The (second copy) of my TSA 120 leaves nothing to be desired. Stars are pin-point with near-textbook diffraction rings. Focus is 'snap-to' and it takes rediculously high magnifications with no image breakdown. I have observed (in ideal conditions) the 'E' and 'F' stars in M42 using a TAK LE 2.8 eyepiece and averted vision! The only hint of false colour I've seen is on Venus while it was about 5' above the horizon, so atmospheric interference was the likely cause.
It is without vice as a Lunar scope, easily outgunning my 8" Newt for resolution and contrast.
If it matters, its also an excellent scope for terrestrial observation of birds, animals etc.
So to summarize: With the $ at an all time high, its a perfect time to get a TAK. However these ARE mass-produced scopes (though not on the Skywatcher scale) and mistakes happen, so I would get the dealer to field-test it before-hand just in case.
Hope this has been of some use.
Peter