I guess I kinda know the answer to this but would like to throw it around
for some thoughts.

Ok, I have a 8" f/6 newt. I can make an off axis aperture mask of 80mm
and still clear any obstructions (vanes and secondary). This I understand
now turns my 8" f/6 newt into and un-obstructed 80mm f/15 reflector, right?
Would this now perform like or similar to a 80mm f/15 refractor now that
the central obstruction is gone?

Also why cant you use a focal reducer on a newt like you can on a SCT.
Apart from the corrector plate and the fact a SCT fires the photons back
though the centre of it's primary as appose to a newt who fires it sideways.
There isn't a big difference in the basic concept of each. Can you use
a FR on a Mak-Newt? is there any kind of focal reduction you can do on
a newt?

thoughts and discussion appreciated.

Hope your having a great weekend guy's

regards,CS