This is easy to answer. Companies that manufacture laser diodes do NOT want anything to do with this community. 'Laser pointers' are two words they DON'T want to hear. Our 'community' is in NO way large enough to compensate for the liability risks incurred by sale of high powered diodes destined for laser pointers. Plus even if every 'laser enthusiast' bought one of these, it wouldn't amount to a 10th of the volume of say ca$i0's likely monthly diode order volume. Plus it'd only be a one time thing.
I understand that we as a whole may not be one-tenth of their ordering schedule, but is that really a bad thing? How can extra penny or two (millions) hurt?
Also, how can there possibly be liability risks?
I understand the dangers of selling high powered lasers - somebody will point them somewhere they're not supposed to, user gets blaimed and seller gets bad publicity.
But these are cutting edge laser diodes! They are parts to be incorporated in your design. If your design happens to be a portable laser, what difference does it make? You're the one ultimately responsible for everything, as claimed immediately when you "AGREE" to purchase the diodes (some sort of EULA must exist, right?).
Besides, blaming the manufacturer of the laser for something bad is like blaming Heckler&Koch because somebody got shot. It's NOT their fault, it's the idiot that pulled the trigger / pressed the button.
Ofcourse, unless it's "Screw all the logic" scenario and the seller of the diodes ultimately gets bad publicity because of retarded usage of the lasers which happens to have their parts in it.
And so far, I don't see Mitsubishi, Nichia or n-Light refusing to sell much higher powered diodes to "small people".
Again, I'm not questioning your stance regarding this, and I really do respect all you guys, it's just that this logic gap is bothering me to no end.
As soon as it's clarified, I'll go disappear in Dark space, lurking again