[buescher]

Guilty as charged - my personal favorite setup is a $150 tube (Celestron C90 Maksutov-Cassegrain) on a $700+ tripod and mount. I wouldn't recommend it to a beginner.

6" f/8 newtonians like the typical 6" dob are really at a sweet spot of aperture, size, optical quality, and cost. They've been the classic beginner's telescope for generations for a reason. I wish I'd had one on a pier-mounted equatorial when I lived under dark skies.

If you are unsatisfied with the f/5 ST80 I don't know if you'd be happy with another fast (low focal ratio) telescope. See if you can find someone local to you to let you look through a telescope similar to the ones you're thinking about.

[manchego]

Good point that another fast telescope may not be what I'm looking for. Though I definitely still need to play with the ST80 more before looking for something else. I think it may have just compared poorly to the 6" Newtonian (not too surprising).

It's interesting to learn just how important tripod and mount are. I think the frustrating thing for a beginner is that they really just need a setup that works, whereas experienced users often describe really finely tuned expensive setups. And to the beginner it can sound like this is the only option.

[buescher]

It seems like every telescope kit or bundle comes at best marginally mounted if not undermounted. I agree it's very frustrating.

A used equatorial (EQ3 type or similar) with a clock drive would be a big step up for your ST80, and shouldn't be too expensive if you can find one.