[phkahler]

>> (And sneakily dangerous as lasers are)

These seem safer. With a wide emission area and focusing lens, a reflected beam will weaken with distance.

[TaylorAlexander]

Indeed, I feel less worried about my 50w solid state laser cutting head from China than I would a 5w laser pointer, as the 50w laser head has a 5mm focal distance and the head has a 50mm square housing, so it mostly obscures what it is lasing and it defocuses quickly.