new scope...how perfect should I expect it to be?

I would have stopped before writting:

this utter lack of professionalism in letting the scope
leave your factory in such a condition.

How did this telescope make it out of your factory in such a condition
and what is your explanation for the total lack of quality control?
I await your response before I pack it up and send it back to
Astronomics for a full refund and move on to Meade."

Save those comments for the news group. Your letter up to that point
was very reasonable, and to me indicates that you deserve another scope
on their dime. Tearing into their credibility won't help you at this
point. Leave that to your lawyer if they don't give you satisfaction
(which I'm pretty sure they will).
I suspect if they would have shipped you a clean scope that didn't star
test as well as your TVs, you might chalk it up to mass production,
design limitations, less money=less performance, etc. shrugged and kept
the scope as a mostly satisfied customer.

Shawn