Some of the presentations from the 2009 Advanced Imaging Conference are available on the web. This presentation reinforces much of what I believe - you don't HAVE to spend a fortune on astrophotography to get great results. It CAN help, but if you select the right elements to go with a lighter but versatile Newt or refractor you can get some great shots.
http://www.aicccd.com/archive/aic200...ronomy_AIC.pdf
(18mb presentation)
If you can't believe Craig Stark, then who can you....
Go the 8" Newt.....!