"Jon Isaacs" wrote in message
...
The competition is moving toward more affordable APO-like refractors
that
offer good views to the unwealthy and non-discriminating eye. I have
always
thought that
paying 1000's of dollars US for 76mm of aperture, portability and
wide
FOV's with accessories that break the bank of the average person is
borderline
hare-brained. IMHO

A couple of thoughts:

1. $1000 or $2000 is a good deal of money. But many people think
nothing of
spending $5000 or $10,000 extra for a fancier car that will be history
in a
decade or so and yet seem to thing that $2000 for a telescope which
will last
at least one lifetime is hair-brained. For many folks, a TV-76 is out
of the
question, but for many it is just a matter of rearranging priorities.

Indeed... I have a neighbor who has a boat that gets used maybe 10 times
a year... and was at least triple the cost of my most expensive scope.
Takes up a lot more storage space, too. g