Your correct, if you polar align it will be easier keeping your target in the field of view. By polar aligning you only have to turn one knob to track it. With maybe a twist or two on the declination knob every half hour or so. You don't have to be all that accurate with the alignment. I would even say if you just pointed the polar axis toward the north it would be close enough to track for visual use. I am like Bob, I rarely polar align but I do point it in that direction.

Marty
Crandall, GA