I've heard some complaints about each reticle illumination method. I personally have replaced my cordless Meade illuminator with the Pulsguide, made by Rigel Systems. It has a wide range of variable brightness, and it can be made to pulse on and off at varying intervals. It just screws in to the same slot as the Meade cordless illuminator. That pulsation is extremely useful when you're stuck with a dim guide star, as is sometimes the case. The original Meade illuminator was so bright that I couldn't use it, though I suspect mine had a defective control. The corded variety has one more cord to tangle, and one more plug to put into (potentially) the wrong socket in the dark.
I personally use the Meade astrometric eyepiece as my guider--I like it, and also like the ability it gives me to do distance and angle measurements, but some find it too crowded with various scales and crosshairs. It works for me. As for flip-mirror or whatever, I use a separate guide scope and just guide from its prime focus.

• P.S. - danieldgj - April 20, 2003 - 03:14 UTC