alt Hacker NewsI’ve also seen many hobbyists do cuts on table saws that seem to encourage danger and then they stand right in the way too. Then they complain that “no one could have predicted this.”
The worst one I’ve seen is someone cutting circles on a table saw (already normally a no) with their hand behind the blade on the side that pulls you in instead of cutting (the kickback side). And it pulls his fingers right into the blade. (Saved by SawStop though.)
Heathy fear does not mean they know how the saw works at all. So I’d say both sides are apt to lose fingers.
Perhaps it's a bathtub curve, but dollars to donuts you'll have an easier time convincing a newbie to not do dangerous shit than someone more experienced. Beyond just doing stupid shit (plunge cuts, circles, arguably dados, whatever) there's professional pressure. Take a look at the whole stone countertop industry (very) slowly coming to terms with silicosis.
Either way I think Sawstop is great. As a hobbyist I wish it were cheaper. Although to be fair a big part of the cost is that Sawstop doesn't sell low end saws — that's nothing to do with the safety tech.