You say the saw is local so if I were in your shoes I would insist on trying it out before you part with your hard earned cash. A footswitch can come later and for me I could not be without my foot switch now. Went for years with out one. If you can try it out make sure the table wehere the slot is for the blade is not at two different levels, this is the only problem with a Hegner I have experienced, had a step on both of my previous Hegners. I wish you well and if you get it you will have many hours of joyful scroll sawing.