Thanks folks,

I think the thing I like best about my ETX (and the reason I got it, hoping it would work) is not only the GOTO ability, but moreso the automatic tracking. I pointed it at Arcturis, left and came back 15 minutes later (after it got a bit darker) and it was still dead center! I was pretty amazed with that.

I was concerned that the fact that the declination lock was not working would hinder it, but it hasn't. There's enough grab inside where the slewing/tracking works fine, but I can still move it manually if need be.

My kids are only 6 and 7, and with that big dob they had a hard time trying to balance on a chair to see without holding onto the tube for support. I'm looking forward to August when the sun goes to bed sooner, so the kids can take a peek through the scope. It's not dark enough for viewing here until almost 10:30.