...I just couldn't justify the space for something like the Harbor Freight floor saw and at $255 I figured I'd get a better saw with a DeWalt with the difference in price being less than $50 bucks. Also the smaller blades are cheaper. So I built a rigged "stand" , removed a rarely used scroll saw and put this in it's place. It can still be moved or relocated if needed, but since this stand was already in use with the scroll saw and small belt sander, no additional space was needed.
I added a piece of micarta for a "table" and while functional, it is a bit thin. Better would be a thick piece of aluminum or at least a thicker piece of micarta or some other stable and hard material.
I use a piece of velcro for a "switch" to lock the trigger down. That allows a quick release if necessary. I'm thinking of a foot switch to use instead.
As far as function. I cut one template out of mild steel and a small blade out of 1/8" 0-1. While not overly impressed with any increase in efficiency over a angle grinder, it does indeed eliminate all of that airborne steel particulate that is produced with an angle grinder. It just produces filings below the saw, which is easily vacuumed up. (I'll still wear a respirator when cutting for safety)
Also it does indeed cut closer to the actual profile, so "roughing in" isn't so rough. Not sure that there is any real savings as far as "waste" there though.
So while no time is saved in actual cutting, perhaps time, and sanding belts, will be saved in the final profile definition at the belt grinder because there is not as much waste that needs to be ground away to define the final profile.