I'm coming to the conclusion that the perfect router plate (for me) hasn't yet been made.
I came very close recently to buying the Incra, BUT...
... I have a T11*. It has three, differently-spaced mounting holes (three more if you use the quick-release cam system), and needs a 19mm hole for the height adjuster's box spanner. The height adjuster hole and the slot for lifting the insert rings out both need to be to the front of the table, so they are not covered by the fence, featherboards, etc.
Incra's pre-drilled plate is a thing of beauty and a lot of common sense, BUT the router is rotated in the wrong way on the plate, so that these crucial parts of the system are in the wrong places.
Given this is CNC milled (presumably), it's completely trivial for Incra to fix the problem. But, apparently, they won't do it. Several well-respected woodworkers, including distributors, apparently have pointed out the problems to them, and that Elu/Trend/DeWalt/CMT--style routers are very popular "over here". They have been fobbed off or ignored (or so I am told). Apparently Incra have no intention of ever fixing this, even though it would be trivial.
In every other respect, their plate would be exactly what I need. Sadly the issue is a complete showstopper for me:
1. You cannot use a router table for anything precise if you can't do fine height adjustment easily. This includes setting up rail+stile sets, mitre lock cutters and a host of other joint cutters and profilers.
2. I often do things where I change cutters but keep the rest of the setup exactly the same - fence, stops, etc. For example when routing "counterbored" slots for jigs. I can't do this if I can't easily remove the middle rings without shifting the fence.
So the Incra, whilst a thing of beauty, fails for me practically on two important counts, and thirdly because the company appears to be deaf to sensible customer comments. I don't have time for that sort of 1970s "you'll take what we give you and be grateful" nonsense.
I know you don't have a T11 - I did read your initial post.
I'm only writing the above as a warning: if you do consider buying Incra, make jolly sure first that the router fits in exactly the way you need it to. In particular, check where any under-table controls would end up when it's in place, and that you can get easily to everything you need to operationally. It's expensive, so don't guess -- find someone using your router with the plate you want to buy first -- ideally a dealer or distributor, so you can check it out thoroughly.
If you sense frustration above, you're dead right. Router plates seem to be inadequately thought out, and a way of milking woodworkers. It isn't rocket science to get it right, it just needs a bit of careful thought and LISTENING TO CUSTOMER FEEDBACK. Meanwhile...
E.
PS: Don't go near that ebay thing with a 20ft pole - frustration and disappointment will be the main outcome, for all sorts of good reasons.
PPS: Have a look at the thick aluminium UJK ones from Axminster, too. It's no use to me (not drilled for Trend T11 and no way do I want a second plate underneath), but I understand the Triton's "needs" may be simpler.
*Contrary to popular myth you can easily change the cutters from above (I do it every time, although it needs a button-push below for a couple of moments in the process).
