Reason is simple. You really don't _need_ as wide a jointer as you think you
do. Knocking the high spots off / shimming the low spots up prior to
planing a wide board, or fully supporting it on a planer sled will handle
even the worst case scenario. Most boards plane adequately by taking light
cuts and alternating properly.

The piddling European machines Andy mentions have jointer tables which,
according to the rec "wisdom" are too short for proper use.

"Eric Anderson" wrote in message
om...
One conflict that still exists that I have not seen a good solution
for is a jointer that matches the width requirements that an average
woodworker has.