: Why do you think you’ve never seen a “Let’s make a circular saw into a
: tablesaw kit” at the hardware store?

got an old one. used it for many yrs in my apartments as a student. seen another european type 5 or 6 yrs ago in a hdware store.

fairly small table 16 or 18x18,saw bolts in, uses switch mounted on table side that saw plugs into, cross cut fence, rip fence. built a few rough bookshelves, cabinets, dwg boards, odd projects and much small stock for models.

annoying to set depth as saw wt works against, and rip fence crappy - modified w/ clamped board.

fundamental design flaw is that the retracted blade cover is now upside down and collects all the falling sawdust slowing the blade and possible ht buildup -aware, but never experienced it even with major ripping.

if i had no table saw, i'd set it up again. still have because it was just so useful.
hell, my plastic & stamped metal bandsaw is driven by my 1/4 in drill and it has built all kinds of stuff as well. not as potentially dangerous, but more of a joke.
if you don't have the bucks or space many tools have to be made to do all kinds of wierd things.

your safety concern is right on the money though. but right tool for the right job needs right priority, right space, right paycheck.