That has already begun. Saw stop technology is already working it's way into regulations. A decent non saw stop table saw will cost you ~500 USD. A saw stop saw will be 1200.

But an average table saw used professionally probably cuts more than 700 USD of limbs during its lifetime. So that seems very warranted and no, we will just take care very well is not a real substitute. That is what at least 10% of our parents also thought while we were fathered.

If my math is right, the cost of even 1 limb greatly exceeds 700USD.

I do hope not every table saw cuts of a limb. The cost is probably a couple of hundred thousand but it is spread out over many saws

Professionally, sure: It's easy (and correct, I think) to assume that a saw that gets used every day, piling on hours, will do more than $700 worth of damage to its operators over its lifespan -- on average. Even with misfires being expensive (~$400, IIRC), it's still completely sensible to spend the extra money for professional use.

I'm not a professional, though. I may need a table saw for some projects, but the projects I undertake that require a table saw are few and are far between. My use won't wear out the saw in my lifetime.

Usage of a table saw in my own shop will be at least a couple of orders of magnitude less -- averaging perhaps a few hours per year. Furthermore, without an angry boss-man looming over me to maximize production, I can spend as much time as is necessary to optimize every operation in a safety-first fashion.

If we assume that it is just two orders of magnitude of difference, then: Spending an extra $700 for a sawstop-equipped saw is rather unlikely to ever pay for itself in my shop at home.

(Now, that's not to say that I wouldn't want this kind of safety feature in my own shop. The idea of losing even part of a finger forever is much scarier to me than spending an extra $700 one time: After all, I can make more money but I can't grow new fingers. It's just not such a financially-obvious choice as it is for professionally-used saws.)

Seems like a small price to pay to not dismember your employees with accidents.

You can always sell used equipment. There is a thriving market for that.

When this article first came out, I had a similar reaction, that it seems that regulations that just favor one company doesn't seem all that right.

But I remember in that thread a few had said that as part of this, SawStop will be forced to license their patent to competitors.

Maybe that'll drive up the cost of table saws, but to be honest, people like me (at best, a wannabe weekend woodworker, not a pro) have stayed away from Table saws because of a concern for safety, but things like Sawstop being more ubiquitous might result in people like me buying them, and expanding the market, possibly bringing prices down.

Sure, Sawstop does nothing to prevent the big issue with table saws (kickback) but still, having a riving knife + sawstop probably makes a huge difference in the overall safety of using a table saw, and that seems worth it.

Many of the saw stop patents are expired and the rest near expiration. That is why we see movement now as there is a limit to patent costs.

Exactly. Eventually regulatory capture begins and eventually enshittification.

No one can start a new plumbing/HVAC small business. Your only option is to go work for Walmart (metaphorically speaking).

> No one can start a new plumbing/HVAC small business.

This isn't true at all, I know several people who have done it.

I understood OP's comment as once PE comes in, monopolizes and regulatory captures, then no one can start a new plumbing/HVAC small business.

Yeah, I think that’s the sentiment. I do wonder how true it can be, however.

I wonder how it is in various states, but at least where I live the actual plumbers get licensed, not the plumbing company. So what can they do to stop it? NDAs? Non-Competes? The state also takes a dim view on such things until you are paying someone a significant amount of W-2 money.

SEO? Brand recognition?

Well anyway, a few months ago I shared a table at a restaurant with someone that worked at a family office, and was buying up landscaping companies. I asked some questions in a polite and friendly manner; nothing too pointed or invasive. But came away with the idea that there is a lot of money out there looking for something to do, and not a lot of good ideas.

Creating ever more onerous/costly/time-consuming requirements for lengthy apprenticeships or other licensing gatekeeping is one common way to restrict supply, all while appearing to be serving the public interest.

"where I live the actual plumbers get licensed, not the plumbing company."

Which then leads to plumbing shops were the licensed plumber doesn't even work there and just rents out the license to the business so it can operate. Plumbing certs are a complete pyramid scheme.

Not unless you know time travelers. It’s a statement about the future, and how this kind of industry consolidation tends toward regulatory capture.

So in 5 years or so, we suddenly see laws everywhere that require expensive certifications, new kinds of insurances, audit requirements, and so on in the name of “safety” no one can start a new small business in those industries without a team of consultants, lawyers, big auditing firms, and so forth.

Are they also as bad at reading as you?

They meant after consolidations.