Chris, a non-GOTO scope is great for learning to find your way around the sky. I personally I have always enjoyed a non-GOTO/tracking scope, for their simplicity. But the big decider for me would be the 12" aperture but you need to take into consideration if you want to transport it? Or just wheel it out into the backyard. I know first hand that a 12" Bintel/GSO Dob tube alone just squeezes across the back seat of a VT Commodore and the base on the front seat. That's how awkward they are to transport. Just food for thought. Having said that, once you look in a 12" you'll never go back
The other consideration, which I have also personally experienced, and witnessed in the IIS classifieds over time, is the reasonable demand and resale value you get from selling a BinTel/GSO dob, whether that be 6, 8, 10 or 12". That certainly helps when it's time to upgrade.