[mdorazio]

Just a quick note on this since I ran into the same wtf? moment a few years ago.

1) Saw Stop holds a number of patents that legally prevented anyone else from adding the same tech to their saws. Most of the patents didn’t expire until 2021, but a few are still effective until 2024. We will probably see other manufacturers add similar features in 2025 as a result.

2) SawStop built its reputation on being a premium brand in addition to being safer. So the quality of components, materials, and build is a lot higher than what you get in even a mid grade dewalt saw.

I still wouldn’t buy one at their exorbitant prices, but hopefully the “accidentally removing fingers” problem will be better solved in a few years.

[counttheforks]

Another point to show how deeply unethical the US patent system is. I wonder how many people have lost appendages because of these patents and the exorbitant pricing?

[Ryoung27]

Nick Offerman has a great quote about this, it boils down to the guy deserves money for something he created and others could have, but were too cheap to make and require. It's not the patent holders fault that they can make money from caring about people's safety.

[counttheforks]

No, it's very clearly the fault of the US patent system. If you design a capitalist hellhole then of course people will try to get rich off of it.