[J P Stein]

I've been working wood for more than 40 years....both as a pro and as a hobby.
When I first came into the trade most of the oldtimers were missing a digit or 2.....but some weren't.....that makes an impression on a young fella.

IMO, you have to be just a little afraid of these tools and not get into the "familiarity breeds contempt" mode. You take one look at a radial arm saw or a shaper (a big router) and say to your self: "that thing could eat me up", but in fact, they all can.

I've had more close calls on a drill press & table saw than any others....maybe because they don't scare me enough. The discipline to think "what can possibly go wrong" is a digit saver.....yes, I'm now an "old timer" and I have all mine, albeit with some scars.

A certain amount of luck is involved.