Welcome to the forums apollo2000. I think you should go back to sears and get a manager. The problem with crapsman most of the time is that when you buy their brands you have to stick to their brands they usally don't make some things interchangable. I would go and tell them that you were told wrong about for one thing that all base plates are different for mounting. Porter cable won't hook up to a black and decker base or vica-versa. So you got miss led in my veiw. I won't go drilling holes through it either might heat it and warp it. Sounds to me the dewalt if you can't take it back will be a nice one for hand held working and if you ever up grade to a better table you could use it for your new table when the time comes. Hope this helps you out.