In fact Darren, looking at the blurb and the RT, it looks even worse.
IT HAS BEEN MADE DOWN TO A PRICE.
TABLE LOCKING HANDLE IS REMOVABLE IF NEEDED
Why would you want to remove the handle? - because in certain positions it sticks up above the table, that's why. Bad design and made that way for cheapness. The Vertex method could have been used, there is plenty of room, but more machining and parts would be required.
Look at the vertical foot on the Vertex, it extends almost up to the table top, giving it more surface area and support for rigidity.
Look at happy boy, and it only extends half way. The reason being, it would require a little more metal and a couple more machining operations to get it to the correct height of just below the table top.
You can see exactly why it was done, skim the casting base, flip over and skim the casting top, job done.
When you look at things like this a little more closely, it is very easy to spot the difference between good and bad quality.
If you compared the Vertex to some of the up market ones, you would instantly be able to tell that even the Vertex was made more cheaply. You get what you pay for. You only have to look at your Japanese one Darren, the quality is superb compared to the ones we normally use.
John