I agree, getting a big dob now means big $$ for a mount later, and I wouldn't go a big dob if I was planning on going to photography later.
He posted in the astrophotography section, so I assumed that was his aim, on that budget it means a small mount and a small refractor and a one shot colour camera, and you can get great results. Stretch to an ED100 and this is possible
http://i773.photobucket.com/albums/y...s/W20001-1.jpg
But that may not be for him, he needs to go look through some actual gear and decide whether to jump into photography now at the low end or go visual.
However for visual, I agree from 8" to 10" there is little difference, go to 12 though and averted viewing starts to become direct viewing, I personally wouldn't bother with an 8" for visual anymore with prices so low. But he is starting out, we can't know if he will find an 8" disappointing or mind blowing, hence my advice to look before buying. Some people's expectations of the view through the eyepiece are higher than others.