The NEQ6 and G11 are also no good for astrophotography for the same reasons... but people still image with them just fine.
They all need tweaking, they all have their issues, but you can make them perform well enough that autoguiding picks up most of the slack.
I get better results with the CGEM than I do with my standard G11. I have had to get the Ovision worm and the clutch plate milled to get the G11 up to the same standard.
Here is a C11 on a CGEM happily producing wonderful images.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/army5/w...oto_8223060316
So you can see, it can work just fine.
Don't be too disheartened by one person's inability to make something work.
Astrophotgraphy is hard, a Mesu mount or an ASA DDM160 makes it easier for sure, but the CGEM, EQ6, G11 etc. can produce world class images, it just takes a little more work.
So yes, with the paramount MX the OP should be just fine, get a crayford focuser and use the mirror locks.