Hi John,
I do not know if you have had any response from Makita, but I would just like to say that they do not need to do product development they just need to offer the tools they already make to the USA. Specifically the 5103R and the 5143R Circular Saws.

I am kinda buming, because I am having so much difficulty even having them shipped from the UK. They are all the tool of a Mafel at half the cost.
-Collin