Quoted from Spinape:Yes, kickback can be deadly. They demonstrated kickback at our school. Knocked a chunk out of the brick wall.
With that being said, a portable doesn’t have the same amperage as shop saws. Not as harsh if you do get kickback. I know you recommend the saw stop, but for hobby is it really worth dropping that kind of cash?
You can jobsite sawstops and Bosch reflex has similar technology and that is a jobsite saw.
I have pinball and woodworking as hobbies and seriously contemplating selling my sof to get a sawstop cabinet saw.