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Charles, heres hat worked for me. I started by looking up at the sky one night with my wife and as we gazed she asked me 'whats that soft sort of cottony thing up there'.
I downloaded Stellarium and discovered that she had seen M-42. We got out the binoculars and started exploring. We quickly realized that she enjoyed it but I was getting wired.
We talked and then ordered an Orion 4.5" Eq mounted reflector. he very fast (3.9) short tube version. I loved it . trouble was that after about a year had done the entire M - 110 with it and was starting to push it to its limits. Least I told myself I was.
Next scope was an 8" Lightbridge. That was 2 years ago, I have done most of the H-400 that is in my sky and I am no where near finding the limits of this scope.
Would I recommend a 6" over an 8" or a 10" over an 8"... no I wouldn't.
Fact is that 6 - 8 - 10 are all good sized scopes that will show you a life time of wow. Astronomy has as many niches and fascinations as there are star gazers. Each niche is best explored with a particular type and size of scope.
Unless you are very lucky your first scope will not be the one that fits what becomes your passion so odds are you will be buying at least one more. So my suggestion is to buy the best quality that you can afford. Do not buy junk. A better quality 6" will give you a better introduction to the hobby than a junker 10".
brian
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