12-18 inch reflector question?

I have a 10 inch Newtonian and I would like to upgrade in the next couple years to something in the 12-18 inch range. Do you recommend that I buy a mirror and a kit to make my own or spend an enormous amount of money on complete telescope. I like how the Meade light-bridge telescopes do not take up nearly as much room as a complete tube since they are just the framework that can but assembled whenever, but it seems like the primary and secondary mirror, and focuser would be constantly out of wack and need to be meticulously adjusted constantly. I am slightly upset by not being able to do astrophotography but after having a 10 inch reflector I am not sure I am willing to loose aperture to be able to afford a refractor that can track.