How about this for a thread.

What is are the most important features in a reflector?
How do you rate them in importance?
Optics
Ability to use magnification
Ability to bring in faint objects
Construction
Movement
Weight
Assembly time
Ease of assembly
Space required for transport
Design, truss or solid tube or other
Tracking and Go-To
These are just a few of the attributes that I can think of right now. They are listed in the order of my importance, how about yours?

Floyd

Good idea for a thread! My list is almost the same. I agree that optics are #1. For me, #2 is assembly time. Since I enjoy viewing in the backyard, I like the idea of keeping a scope assembled in the garage and easily move it into position. I've had numerous other scopes, but found the 20" I have now to be one of the fastest/easiest to set up. I leave the scope assembled, wheel it into the back, bring the step stool, charts and eyepieces and I'm ready to go. I've had smaller scopes (with eq mounts) that took more trips back and forth - scope, mount, counterweights. Also, the 20" brings in faint objects despite the light pollution. I've been observing globular clusters in the south looking directly towards moderate city lights. Not as spectacular as dark skies but I see them.
The other factors are important also. Its interesting though that I got by without go-to for 35 years+ and now I couldn't live without it! I'd place that a bit higher

Thanks
Bill

Aperture, Cost, Optics, Motion, Customer Service from either dealer or manufacturer, Tube(this is a set up and transportation thing) I am all about bang for my buck, I have way to many things I want to spend money on and way to little of it to spend. Sailing, Astronomy, and Photography, are all hobbies that you can go broke doing and I am silly enough to love all 3. So I want to try to maximize for what I can do. We bought the Canon Digital Rebel XT because it was a compromise for Astro and Photo. I try to take that approach in all of our hobbies.

Being that I live in a light polluted area (Connecticut), light gathering power is not at a premium, and transportbility is key.

Optics are important, but proper collimation and adequate baffling can even make a so-so mirror look good.

One of the most important qualities to me is the combination of all the little things (fit and finish?): ease of adjustment, the smoothness of the focuser, clean movement of the mount, resistance to wind and vibration, etc.

-David