Autoguiding: off-axis guider vs. finder

I've been pondering getting an autoguider and was just mulling over the best way to employ one. I see autoguiders most of the time plugged into a simple finder mounted on the main OTA. However, I would've thought that finding faint guide stars would be much easier with it attached to an off-axis guider right into the main scope. Is this just my imagination?? Am I wrong? Someone please correct me.
I guess adding optics in front of a camera is not such a good idea but for superior guiding it would just seem better. I guess one could just invest the 100 bucks in a good refractor to piggyback.

People have success useing both methods. If you go with an off axis guider, stay away from Meade's OAG. The pick off mirror is very small and it has a small Feild Of View. Plus, if your useing a focal reducer, you'll never get it focused. Get one of the giant easy guiders. I like the piggy backed refractor. You get a wider FOV and you can find stars well past 8th mag. for guiding. Be sure your mount can hold the extra weight and that everything is balanced or it just wont work.