Phil,
No one but the Hubble gets that arc per second visual or imaging, or maybe in Antarctica on a still day. 2-3 is super excellent from suburbia which is where most of us live. Where I live I am happy to see the Sun sometimes!
Mine would be 3-4 on best of days.
And capitol letters makes it seem like you are shouting.
My advice, get a DSLR. Cheap. Big chip so easy to find the target and focus. Can be modded later for extra sensitivity or cooling (ooh! sounds like a menthol condom). Lots of software for support especially Canons.
I have two CCD cameras. Both of which are on the earlier list. The Atik 314L+- super cooling and a mono camera and a nice filter wheel. I have had it for 18 months and not produced a photo i would put on here yet. The QHY 8 OSc or similar- I love it and even though blowing the cooler up by accident (and the camera being second hand) the QHY folks mended it free of charge and mailed it back to me. Now tell me that is not good product follow up. I also produced a semi decent photo within a week of having the mended one.
Bias is always good, and always good for a poke in the ribs of opinionated folks like myself.
My advice, buy something you will use.
Oh, and buy second hand.
