Rob
I look forward to the discussion! 
I guess my main aim in the posts was to try to assist the OP with some information. Hence I tried to outline some of the factors that would weigh on a purchasing decision and how a beginner can use that info to make an informed decision. The OP has a limited budget, that said, if a 76mm Firstscope is all the budget will allow, then go for it, but these scopes have limitations and will not give Hubble like views of the sky.
We can really only assist people with the benefit of experience, and from my personal experience, I still feel that my comments were valid. I owned a little 70mm goto refractor for a while and found using it difficult. Under dark skies it was quite handy, but with any level of light pollution, even the moderate level we have here in Colac, it dropped in usefulness markedly. Even M42 was a difficult object. Given that almost anywhere in the UK is going to have significant light pollution at least to a level similar to my home.
I will admit I haven't had the opportunity to look through one of the Firstscopes, but I have seen one and IMO they are just useable mechanically.
I recommended that the OP consider a pair of binos as an option. Partly because they would fit within a tight budget, but also because they could continue to give value if the observing bug bit and she later decided to get a larger scope. Odds were in that situation, a 76mm scope would sit gathering dust.
All that by the by, as you know Rob, I am in awe of your observing skills, and look forward to having that chat at SV!
Malcolm