Been a while since I've posted here, but this is too good to stay quiet.
Festool has a rep for 'integration' with their dust collection, etc. and I used one of their sanders thinking it was above the standard. It lasted 2 years. Their abrasives are indeed quite good, but after a recent decision to invest in a new RO Sander and vac system, I was lucky enough to be steered away to Mirka and their Deros Electric with an 18ft hose and 912 Vac. The shop has Festool Rotex (an angry tool that requires 2 hands just to keep it under control) and the finish sander ETS 6 inch. Considered the best by some, but the Mirka is by far a better pro class tool. The abrasives are superior, and although it was expensive, is was easy to get into the rig for a discount from one of the biggest importers here, I.E. not fixed ALA the much exalted Festool.
I'll add that there is a certain "Fetish' element with Festool in the "Garage Set" of tool buyers. Some might be talented craftsman but I don't get why anyone would buy a product name across every hand tool type unless they have no experience in what works in real craft and production shops. A friend has a few of their drills, and they are the clunkiest things I've ever held in my hand.
Don't get me started on the storage boxes. That's a dead giveaway to the collector types, who are more concerned with how it looks stored than how it performs. If it's not on a shelf or plugged in at a workstation, ready to go, you're not using it. If it's in a tidy box with a label, you're a collector who will turn it on 2 times a year.
I could be wrong ;)