I don't think you really understand the meaning of the word 'smug', Alex. Being open-minded, prepared to move with the times and take advantage of new technologies as they emerge and reach mainstream isn't something to be criticised. New may be different, different is often better than old.
I know it a lot better than you. In reality, I am much more smug than you, except that when I feel condescending, I resists the urge to lash out and I still treat people in a respectful manner no matter if I disagree with them or not. It is called "good manners".
The fact that you honestly share here with us that you are amused by people's opinions that do not agree with yours is the point where you become smug to others. Get that?
But you know what, you do what you like and I'll do what I like, how's that? It's not about either of us being right or wrong, but rather, it's about how we differ as folks and how we look at what's available to us to use if we want it.
Fine. You remember that the next you read my opinion. If you have a different opinion, say your piece, but don't be condescending or I'll call you out.
I'm as well equipped from personal experience on both sides of the rotary knob vs membrane switch unit to determine whether or not there's some decline in quality or user experience.
There isn't.
You are not the only person on earth with personal experience. Something works for you? Fine, I won't attack you on that on a personal level. But you're different, people should just be quiet, and move on, right? Get with the times. You talk often like that here, and I will talk back when you do it to me.
I am 49 but I have over 40 years of experience with power tools as I grew up in a body shop/garage. And the older tools were MUCH more reliable than modern tools. Because they relied on simpler and more robust technology. Sure, some things definitely get better with new tech. Brushless motors are a bliss. But not everything is better. Too much electronics in modern tools and that's not a bliss at all. It is just a marketing gig for empty headed people.
Worst of all things are these electronics inside the tools that decide for you when something goes wrong. I used to borrow a Bosch sawzall from somebody which was 20 years old and it just works, all the time. Then I decide to buy my own, a much more modern Makita, and it has anti-kickback protection. Guess what? The darn saw stalls ALL THE TIME. Like, I make a difficult cut that requires some force, and it stops every two seconds to "protect" me. Like, I don't have any muscles to do that for me. Bloody ridiculous. The thing is USELESS. But sure, new tech, right? Great, we can't get any work done anymore.
I notice the same difference between my older 2006 Mini vac and my newer 2018 Midi, the old one just works, all the time, it only quits when I've been sanding for hours in the 35 degree summer sun. The new one? It stops ALL THE TIME. Because it has more electronics in it that supposedly protect the tool. Yeah sure. It interferes with my productivity. And I am pretty sure the newer generation Midi's has even more of that junk inside.
When I got my first Festool in 2008, Festool would advertise everywhere that there tools were more expensive than the competition because they were more robust and would last for 25 years. That was their slogan back then. And then suddenly, you never heard that slogan again.
We all have our own experience, and what works for you does not need to work for somebody else. Accept that, and don't be smug about it.
Alex, I'll put this plainly.
I'm not smug. I'm not arrogant. I'm not condescending.
I'm writing from a position where I have first hand experience, using something I've bought and paid for, twice.
It amuses me when I see what you've written here, again. What amuses me is that you write about your opinions and irrelevant experience in relation to the specific feature of a specific tool, as opposed to writing about your experiences of that tool in real life.
On any forum, for any brand, product line or subject of interest, there will be people who do that. It's the internet and I get that.
At the end of the day, my amusement is probably a good thing. It beats getting angry when people write about things which are no more than un-infored opinion and present it as something worth more than that, when in reality it's just a guy with notions who hasn't actually put these to the test.
You and I along with anyone else who has something to say should be able to say it, whether or not we agree or disagree, without fear that someone's going to get the hump just because what they've said strikes a humorous note for the person who receives the message.
I'm no spring chicken myself and have just as much time 'on the tools' as you have. That's completely irrelevant information, coming from either of us. Where we differ is that I have the first hand experience with the tool models in question to be able to combine with my 40+ years of tool use to bring to bear. You don't. That's just a fact, nothing open to argument or dispute.
So when I read strong statements presented as facts when they're no more than opinions formed in the absence of actual experience, this amuses me. It amuses me that people do that in the first place and it further amuses me that even when these truths are pointed out to some, they can't grasp the futility of their attempts to argue a point they're not in a position to make in the first place.
The internet serves to magnify just how ridiculous this stuff is, and this is just one of those times when it's easy to see how people don't like to be corrected and can't even see how silly they're being.
I don't want to argue. There's nothing to be gained of any real value here in going round in circles. But I'll keep finding opinion (especially when it's malformed) presented as fact rather amusing.
TLDR; I bought two CT Midi I's with membrane controls, filter cleaning, BT remote, integrated hose garages and blower ports. They're great bits of a kit and a big advancement when considered as a whole compared to older vacs. They both perform with absolute reliability with a whole host of tools connected, direct cabled and via BT control, without ever doing anything unexpected. I write from an informed position of ownership, as opposed to as someone who wants something else or doesn't want to buy one of these. My opinion in this particular instance has value. The others opinion is misleading, ill-informed and not particularly worth considering as a potential buyer of a modern Festool CT. You may also find it entertaining or amusing that people in such a position continue to push their notions as valuable input, despite all the practical evidence to the contrary. If you're Dutch, you might even appreciate the straight-talking, no nonsense response I offer to this guff.
