Is a $700 track saw actually worth it or just a fancy circular saw? My gamble either way

I picked up a corded track saw about 8 months back because I was doing a bunch of closet shelving and kept fighting with straight edges and clamps. Dropped $700 on it after going back and forth for weeks. First project it cut perfect, no tear out, dead straight. Felt like a genius. Then I used it on some plywood sheets and realized my old circular saw with a good blade and a clamped level woulda done the same job in about the same time. But the safety factor is real, no kickback worries, and the dust collection is better than anything I've had. So now I'm torn. For finish work on sheet goods, sure. For rough framing or quick cuts, it's a big expensive paperweight. Anyone else drop major cash on a tool and have mixed feelings? What made you finally decide it was or wasn't worth it?

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young.nora1d agoMost Upvoted

I read somewhere that festool guys basically treat their track saws like a religious experience, but I saw a video where a guy compared the $700 one to a $150 one and honestly the cuts looked IDENTICAL to my eyes. The real win is just having the track setup at all, not the fancy motor on top.