: I don't think anybody's against building better safety features
: into a tool. I'm also not crazy enough to think that a power
: tool company is going to turn down an offer to build better
: safety into a tool, as long as it's economical to do so.

: That last bit is what has me worried about the SawStop. The way I
: see this happening... guy invents SawStop and patents it. He
: goes to all the saw manufacturers, and gets turned down. Not
: because it's a good idea, but because he's not offering an
: economical deal to license the patent. It becomes a bad business
: decision to do so. After getting rejected, SawStop inventor
: tries to pass legislation that forces use of his patented
: technology, getting the deal he wanted originally.

: As a result, I feel this has more to do with behind-the-scenes
: money deals than tool safety.

We don't trust anyone any more, no we don't. And for good reasons. In the end the public interest is only important if it coincides with profit.