The shop I go to (Makerspace if there's one near you) just adopted this industrial metal cutting bandsaw from the 1920's. It is at LEAST 1000 pounds, 10' tall has all the same charming characteristics you described of your own saw, and works well. It seems like a piece of machinery that was never supposed to be moved once it was placed, but it is a marvel just to be in its presence.

Precisely, though! You can be in a woodshop with tools and machines you have no business/experience/training using the same way you could in a gym. Just use the ones you're familiar with and don't cause a scene. Though I would love to see your saw, furthermore flatter your use of vocabulary as I add "sadistic malice" to my own thank you.

I treat the gym like a treat the woodshop: humbly. Good lesson to learn early, glad you're ok.