An interesting and surprising admission. It seems that everyone in the forums drops on one knee when speaking about their Questars.... I've never looked through one. I'd love to read of a shoot-out between a Questar and Royal Optical 76.2 f/15.7 or even a well figured and collimated 11TE-5. I'm sure the Questar impresses with its mechanical precision, attention to ergonomic detail, general execution in a small package, and outstanding consistency in optical quality. But does the observer really see more? I think I know the outcome -> my failing is wanting to see it in writting.....
Okay, about 5 years ago, right after I got my 1958 Q3.5 Standard, I did a SxS with my 1964 Sears (AO) 76mm F16. (This was before I learned that the Q can be collimated!)
At up to 50x / inch (about 150x), the 2 scopes were neck & neck on planetary. At about 60x / inch (180x - 200x), the AO Refractor pulled ahead. BUT... on deep-sky, the Q never failed to beat the AO. So... which scope won? Well, on versatility, the Q was the hands-down winner. On the sub-test of planetary, the refractor won at the extremes of magnification. IIRC, the original design concept for the Questar was a general-purpose every scope versus dominating a niche, so that concept succeeded. And, then some. To this day: I haven't used any other 90mm scope that can match the Q for displaying some nebulae -- like The Dumbbell. Why? I really don't know. It has to be tied-up with visual perception, the Q's inherent contrast & resolution, and other factors... Because, some of my best views of The Ring were in my 1950s Edmund 4" F15 -- or my heavily-used (& loved!) 1971 RV-6. Both are called "planetary nebulae" -- but visually they are in different categories...
You have to use a Q to really appreciate a Q. It's not majik, it's just a very well engineered high-quality instrument.
IF you're debating buying a Q... Honestly, I'd look at an AO, APL, or SYW 76x910 first. Even more versatile, and eye-popping performance -- for a lot less money. Or, the more common C80 / C80P (like mine) -- I won't part with this Vixen Gem until I absolutely have to! Put a 4-slot eyepiece turret on a C80, and you have a Q -- and then some. It'll be a larger & heavier rig than a Q on a Meade 884 tripod, but I don't think you'll care...