Regards the brushless/fuel vs brushed conversation I started by asking about the angle drill...are some of you actually avoiding brushless/fuel because you prefer brushed? Your thinking is that you'd prefer (potentially) less expensive maintenance?
Brushless FUEL models are generally a superior tool offering.
KC had made the point that brushed tools have been and still are effective and workable tool choices and because of "less technology" so to speak for the most part are usually a less expensive option too.
Truly not everyone needs a FUEL tool.
But that's not really straight forward logic anymore as the more recent non-fuel brushless tool releases are added to the mix. Do you buy a brushed drill or pay more for a "brushless" version drill or impact driver with the same basic performance specs

.
Can't quite say that choosing brushed over brushless as a maintenance point
alone be my reasoning to make a model decision.
I'm plenty happy with plenty of brushed tools I own M18 drill, M12 impact wrench/driver. Maintenance wasn't really a factor though dollar value was back when they were purchased. And brushless non fuel wasn't even thought of as marketing gimmick yet
Now how Milwaukee gives us the offerings they do is anyone's best guess right?
I wonder sometimes...the M12 polisher/sander would seem to me to be tool that would benefit from being a FUEL. Or maybe just a brushless motor

because of the continuous run time one may expect to use the tool.
Many people seem to want an OMT in FUEL brushless. I don't know what kind of performance increases that will provide? Obviously the tool doesn't really do much but vibrate and cut right? Seems to work ok as is. Maybe a brushless motor sure. Not like not needs a big torque increase that I know of.
Most all the RA tools are brushed which is interesting the impact drivers and drills both M18 and M12. They all could use a boost performance wise but they don't seem to do it. Maybe the right angle power transfer is a weak link for Milwaukee who knows.
I for one would really like a powerful but compact M18 RA FUEL DRILL to bridge the gap.
FUEL seems to the only real choice when choosing a Hackzall on either platform now. Though they are still brushed options nobody seems to buy them or doesn't talk about
Other stuff is brushless BUT also FUEL only. Like the M12 CutOff tool and the new M12 Die Grinders. Got no choice there. Performance is still only so so.
There's some other stuff where the decision is already been made too like nailers brushless FUEL only