Rob,
No worries on hijacking. You can find lots of sawstop threads on other forums. People rave about them, they're very nicely made. Yes, they're expensive... which is the only reason I don't have one. But then, just one accident, and you've covered the cost. They are now coming out with a contractor saw version... it's been rumored for a while, but there are whispers that some have shipped. They'll sell a ton of them, even though they'll be twice the price of a normal contractor saw.
Oh, and pay no attention to the old fogeys with their justification mythologies. You always get that kind of argument. "I don't need anti-lock brakes, because I'm careful." "No one should have airbags, they should pay attention to the way they drive." And the best one: "that person deserved to die in that car wreck... he did something stupid, and that's just one way of thinning the herd." What's truly amazing is the vehemence of opposition to new technologies... remember Lee Iococca screaming about airbags? And all sorts of people complaining about them? Now even my lowend pickup has them...
If only they didn't cost so much. If you can't afford one, you should be thinking, like I am, about some festool or similar portable saw. People love them the way others love their sawstops. Won't get rid of your need for a tablesaw, but it's way safer in some situations...
One accident, just one, and my shop closes forever. Think about that one for a minute... And then there's this: 50,000 table saw accidents a year. 50,000. The reason there's a mythology of care is because these machines are inherently dangerous. Ever done something careless, and then turned off the saw and cursed yourself for doing something so stupid? I promise you, I do that at least once a week...
Thanks,
Bill