"geek emeritus" wrote
I think that the EQ mount would take less space, since you can store the scope
with the OTA at the vertical position. I believe that most AltAz mounts do not
allow this, though I suppose you could just remove the OTA and stand it up by
the mount. As to pier vs. tripod, it is probably a wash, if you can collapse
the tripod to have the legs vertical or nearly so.

Both my Meade fork mount scopes, a 10" LX200GPS and an ETX-125AT,
certainly can be pointed vertically for storage. You have to do it to fit them
into the storage cases. You have to detach the electric focuser from the
LX200, which takes only a couple of seconds.

I would check out the portable cases available for the scopes you're
interested in, and see what the outside dimensions are. The ones I've
looked at do not hold the tripod.
--
Judson McClendon (remove zero)
Sun Valley Systems http://sunvaley.com
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."