Proctologically Violated©® wrote:
ergo the distinction between variable speed/stepped pulleys moot (at least
w/ 3 ph motors)?

One thing is for su VFD is lot more expensive than stepped pulleys!
But mebbe the way to go, if there are no other disadvantages.

Depends totally on how much power your
cutter needs. I have a 1hp VFD and motor
with a stepped pulley and I go for weeks
without moving the pulley. I do mostly
AL and small cuts.

If you do lots of steel with big cutters,
then you need to 'downshift'.