I’ve said several times that if you can’t make it in the 
make the tool to make the thing.
Here is a great article from my friend Bill Young talking about it. He talks about repetitive tasks but it applies just as much to when you need that part out of 3/4" ply and the literally just won’t cut it.
You can pick up a decent 1/2" router for less than $200.
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This is a good article. I know I can do most things just by hand, but I so enjoy the digital part of design. And then when you can get digital assistance for precision, that’s extra good. Then digital for repeatability. Some day a CNC that can do full sheets of plywood.
I use a router with jig shapes a lot, especially before I built my bandsaw. Come to think of it, I used the router to make the bandsaw in cutting the wheels out.
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Then there are folks like me that don’t have room for woodworking materials nor the ability to handle the dust. Lots of times I’m thinking I could sure use a router to get a beveled edge or something similar. In an ideal world I’d have a great big workshop with all kinds of fun tools. Meantime I’ll use the hammer that I have. 
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I’ve gotten where I have to put on a dust mask for most operations these days I’m not to let that stop me!
You can get a good respirator style dust mask for 25 bucks!
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My buddy home built one of these, I’m fairly jealous.
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A Shaper Origin and a track saw is a good second best. As parts get bigger the more straight lines they tend to have.
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