Mike,
You don’t need a NV binocular. Just like with eyepieces, a monocular is all you need to get the full benefit of night vision.
There is no learning curve. You unscrew the lens on the intensifier. You screw on the adapter. You screw on a filter. You turn on the intensifier. You put the intensifier in the telescope just like an eyepiece. It's less complicated than changing the time on the digital clock in my car.
And one doesn’t need a turnkey system. A Mod 3 intensifier with a $25 C-mount to 1.25” adapter and two filters are all you need. The system offered by Tele Vue is nice but it is not the only game in town.
And just like with telescopes, one also doesn’t need the absolute top of the line NV intensifier tube to get most of the NV experience.
For deep sky observing, an Obsession 15” F4.5 Standard (no extras) Dobsonian will run $6,000, with extras it will cost more. And one will need wide field eyepieces and filters, etc. And that scope will need a reasonably dark sky to deliver its best. With the same budget, one could get a Mod 3 intensifier, the extras needed and a 10” Orion Dobsonian. The 10” with the intensifier will show things (like the Horsehead Nebula, etc.) that are just not seen in mild to heavy light pollution and you won’t have to travel to a dark sky and that system will also go deeper and show more details in many objects under a black sky.
I wouldn’t recommend an intensifier for someone starting out. Then again, I wouldn’t recommend a 15” Obsession either.
But for the experienced observer who likes the "visual experience" and wants to see more, an intensifier is a very strong consideration over getting a larger mirror, and it can actually be a less expensive proposition.
Or for those getting up in age and need to downsize but don’t want to give up the light gathering capability of larger aperture, again an intensifier can be a very strong consideration with the added benefit that you will actually see “more” and with "less hassle" in a “smaller telescope” using an intensifier. I think that qualifies as a win/win.
Bob
Still, it’s like one fixed focus 1.25” eyepiece isn’t it? I guess with several barlows of different power and a thread in reducer or two you have more flexibility? What is the field of view? Is it limited like a CCD camera? You mention two filters? Why are filters needed? I thought the point was to enhance existing light. As I said, it’s interesting stuff. Still, it seems like a lot of tinkering with things to have much flexibility and I think the cost is beyond most people’s consideration. One could buy a lot of gas for many dark sky trips. Imonly have to go 25 miles from my house to get pretty dark skies.