Hi Mike,
Good topic, I am interested in a bandsaw, too. I noticed that the Rikon looks an awful lot like the Sears/Craftsman 10" bandsaw. I wonder what modifications were made so that the Sears version could be $50 cheaper.
I like the idea of ball-bearing blade guides on the 10" bandsaw but wonder if it is worth the extra cost. The 9" bandsaw looks like it has graphite blocks to guide the blade. Plus, the 10" saw includes the rip fence.
-Chris