c8 i

does anyone have much hands on experience with the new celeston c8 i, with the single arm mount. can you tell me the plusses and minuses. is the arm and gearing rugged at all? any precision to this system? is the go-to accurate at all? is set up easy and convenient? is the tripod adequate... ?? is scope to scope quality an issue...the usual questions...

also can anyone tell me why virtually ANY sct, especially 8 inches and up, doesnt come STANDARD.. flocked as the additional cost would be virtually zero... with 2 inch mirror diagonal standard yet include the 1 1/4 adapter... the additional cost at the mfg end would be virtually nothing... and a large wheel slip on focuser to allow fine and normal focusing? why dont they keep the crummy finderscopes presently offered or at least sustitute a telrad?.. and especially with sct's offer a bob's knobs or equivalent system. all the above represent a pittance at the manufacturing level. just a combination of comments within questions.
cheers

Yes, I would like to hear the answer to your first paragraph. It sounds like about the best trade off so far of weight/aperature.

As for the barely usable accessories they bundle things with, I'm betting that the big 2 have learned that they are selling to people who want it all in one package at a price, and the people who want quality all around don't buy packages--they probably already have some decent eyepieces.