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Hi, heres how it worked for me. First I had a friend bring in a 4.5" short tube reflector from Orion. It was pretty much airline size. later I moved up to a Meade 8" Lightbridge which is a truss design and is a pretty small package for shipping.
Something to consider is that an SCT will not give you as good a view visually aperture for aperture. You and your son can do astrophotography, albeit of a limited nature with a dob mounted reflector.
The bad reputation reflectors have for needing maintenance is not really much more than a myth.
Collimation is not a swear word and neither is it difficult... yes there is a proper way to do it but once the technique is learned it is just a minute or two to do it at the start of the night and with a scope of 8" aperture or less it is a one person job that is basically twisting a nob or two to line things up while looking through something as simple as a collimation cap.
Might I suggest you go to a dealer or a star party and try to move a SCT on a tripod versus a reflector on a dob mount. Personally I find the dob mount a lot easier to move.
Also please bear in mind you may find that after you check things out a SCT is what you want and that is why there is more than one type of set-up.
Brian
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