Have you ever watched Sam Maloof do any freehand cutting on the bandsaw?
The old craftsmen who have all their fingers never loose their concentration are always aware of what is going on with their cutting tools!
Exactly! It is a complete concentration and focus. And knowing your tools. This subject has come up before and I've taken some flack for my opinions on it. But the fact is, if I cannot give 100% of my focus and concentration to what I am doing, then I do not turn on that TS or router. There are always other tasks to be done without risking my appendages. Like all else, the ability to walk into my shop, and FOCUS on what I am doing, is something which has come with practice. I have mostly older tools, and none have safety guards, etc. It is ENTIRELY MY OWN responsibility to ensure my own safety. And, I believe, that is as it should be. It is also my own responsibility to know when not to use those tools, and to know when to take a break.
And lest I come across as arrogant on this matter, yes, I did learn these lessons the hard way. Two times, ten years apart, I ran my finger into the router bit on the router table. ( first time was a 3/4" straight bit, which took a small wedge of flesh out of the tip; second time was a cope and stick bit, which grabbed my glove and pulled my hand down into the bit, then the glove caused the router to stall, thereby only damaging one finger-some shredded flesh and splintered bone on the end, which all grew back together fairly well; I'm determined to avoid a third, and no, I do not ever wear gloves anymore, when using the router table!) Both times, I was distracted and not focussed on what I was doing.