Yes - thanks, Ron - your opinion is highly valued. I understand the value of good quality tools; I also get the value of shop space. My current bandsaw is fair enough for some light duty wood & aluminum work (1/2 hp, 10") but is due for a replacement/upgrade. Unfortunately, a real metal-cutting bandsaw seems to be an expensive commodity. I think the metal capacity listed for the "Bladerunner" is 1/8" in steel. And, yes, the "jigsaw" style operation has me concerned. All this has to go into the "decision machine". The good (?) news is that I haven't committed to a project yet, so I can wait for the good deal on a bandsaw upgrade. Or fitting a gear reducer to a serious wood cutting bandsaw....
But, for what its worth, a boatbuilder friend of mine once told me that a good quality jigsaw beats a bad bandsaw.