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It would remove the need for a guide camera completely. This means diddly squat for most people but in the world of imaging once you get past the happy snap phase telescope optimisation starts kicking in.
eg. For me im a newt lover! OAG is definately the way to go normally. So once you add on a good size 11k chipset or even 16803 chipset plus your guider, plus your 3" field flattener plus your Adaptive optics (dependant on FL) plus your off axis guider plus your guide camera. the back space you require starts adding up (my system currently sits at 270mm from the Tube to chipset more like 300mm to the end of the CCD) and thats not including AO.
So removing the need for a OAG and Guide Camera is an attractive option because it reduces your back focus, hence reduces the need for 3.5" focusers and bohemith secondarys to get full illumination at the chip. it also lightens the load required to be supported by the focuser. One less thing to worry about and less cables.
Further more with the addition of the encoder thats running i believe at 25Hz, it can adjust for wind gusts which .... is needed on such a big parachute of a newt! Guiders can help, but no where near as fast as you need it to be effective!
Are they expensive. Yes. Are they worth 20 minute unguided subs... well Yes. Will they reduce in cost over time. More than likely! Think about computer equipment, 1995 486DX66 was close to 2000 dollars (about 4000 in todays money) now my Samsung galaxy S blitez it for processing, graphics size and display. Give it time new technology will come to fruition.
To stick your head in the sand and say it works now is just a silly notion, if that where the case we wouldn't be talking to each other on the internet nor would we have telescopes. most likely we would all be sitting under a shady tree somewhere ugging at each other and head butting rocks for fun! It wasn't that long ago that a 10" Dob was massive. now they are small!
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