A table saw is the centre of any woodshop. It is more versatile and useful than any other piece of machinery. I don’t feel we should scrimp, or even compromise on this. It should be heavy to absorb vibrations, and solid. This is going to be the workhorse of our shop.
Definitely needs to have the saw stop. To not get the saw stop is to go begging for trouble because accidents do happen even when care is taken. With something as potentially dangerous as this, very serious accidents are possible.
I understand there is a diminishing return on investment with this, however, this is a decision where we should be reaching for the best we can afford. You get what you pay for. What @devians was saying right from the start is still on the money here, even this late in the discussion. As for the sliding bench saw, I think the better way to go would be a sled, which incidentally we could make ourselves. Just my preference. Could even have both.
could get that and the saw for the same price as the equivalent sawstop.
(thats not the right tool either because it isn’t helical head, but you get the idea)