Well, I've had a fair night to check out the GT and form some impressions. Mounted on a CG5goto, good size/weight ratio, more stable than with the TEC. In a word...Excellent.

Jupiter even fairly low showed good detail with red spot even at the following edge. Belts stood out with good contrast and detail seen in the N and S polar regions. About on par with the TEC although I've seen way more in better seeing with it. Excellent star test.

Cruised the galactic bulge,M17,M8,M22 on to Hercules M13, Lyra M57...all about comparable to the TEC view.
The double double was an easy, excellent split, with dark lines at 136x and just got better as I zoomed in with the TV3-6 eyepiece.
Alberio, beautiful with faithful color rendition

The first night out wasn't the best of seeing, but Saturn at low altitude still diplayed globe shadow, belt and a hint of cassini's. It cut thru some pretty bad seeing quite well.

I love the size compared to the TEC, very easy to maneuver the whole setup in and outside. I like the FT 3.5" focuser of the TEC better but the AP's 2.7 with FT ain't bad either, just different. I DO NOT like the 2 screws tapped into the tube side...a short cut I believe. The push on cover is old school and WILL rub the paint off the dew shield eventually. I love the TEC's lens cover. AP should update that and set up the focuser for the finderscope.

I'am primarily a planetary/lunar/double star visual observer. My biggest concern is what I might loose on planetary detail giving up the TEC's 10mm. I have viewed the mottling on martian maria, 10+ belts and detail in the red spot on Jupiter, multiple bands and ring structure on Saturn with the TEC and this is my minimum level of acceptable detail.
I hope the GT can deliver it...