Telescope Research

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Telescope research for a multi-purpose scope if i get one

I want to look at planets, moons revolving around Jupiter/Saturn, our moon, Iridium Flares, Space Station, comets, and long range terrestrial spotting like landscape and the paper at the rifle range.
One thing to note is Mars is fewer arcseconds than Saturn so a scope that resolves Mars will also resolve Saturn. According to my script which output is below Saturn is 3Xs the angle of Mars.

There seems to be 3 factors in picking a telescope that will all add to the price tag.

Reflector (lens) Size
magnification lens (glass quality)
focal length (which will effect performance from the 1st 2 above)

Telescope size to visibility Table for sizing a Telescope need. This is an output from a script i wrote.
I asked around from the Orion club and at work and got some of the following answers about what telescope to get

Become a member of Star Party Clubs and use other people's scope, or get online and see pictures taken from Hubble. An individual can't afford better.
It's a time vs. money thing. And some commercial products are not as good as others. You might want to check the used telescope market on Ebay or http://www.astromart.com/classifieds
Consider size and portability. (Had a friend who built a 16 in Newtonian, then he discovered he had to trade his car in for a van with no seats so he could move it. Then it took almost 8 hours to get it in the van, almost 8 hrs to set it up, and then take it down again, he finally sold it and bought a 10 inch)
My advice? Get a high quality refractor. My favorite is a televue 60!Then, get a set of eyepieces at 200 bucks each. Easy to set up. Easy to carry. Easy Easy Easy to carry to remote dark sky sites Then, augment this with a hand grenade. Or two. These would be the 2 inch Meade and the ilk. Owners of big light buckets welcome the view through your high end eyepiece.
I used to have a 55mm achromat refractor, 75X, never could see the Cassini division in Saturn's rings. I would get at least a 70mm or 80 mm refractor, so you can more than barely see it.
My advice from too many years of observing, if there is such a thing, would be an 8" f5-6 Schmidt or Newt. Enough light bucket, portability and wide field for 90% of your observing. Good little refractors are expensive easy to use and very limited to BRIGHT OBJECTS. disadvantages portability(minor), collumation issues( you'll get used to it) and good steady mount! Don't skimp! you'll never be happy with a cheap mount. Always get one OVER BUILT!