Anybody have recommendations or resources for intermediate amateur astronomers looking to buy a telescope on a budget between $500-$1000? Ideally it would evalu

Anybody have recommendations or resources for intermediate amateur astronomers looking to buy a telescope on a budget between $500-$1000? Ideally it would evaluate refractor, reflector, and catadioptric scopes that are reasonably portable. Assume this archetype has mastered solar system observations, knows how to find their way around the sky with an equatorial mount, and is interested in more deep-sky observations. I’ve looked at an 8 inch Schmidt–Cassegrain scope and the thing is a beast. Would like to know if anybody has a 6 inch they’re happy with and could recommend.