Adrian
I don't understand why blade drift is not an issue just because the cut is a crosscut. Seems to me like how much of an issue it is depends on the length of the cut (and of course how much lead you actually have on your saw). And as I noted, it seems like when I cross cut using the miter slot the saw doesn't like it. It runs louder and leaves a rougher finish compared to freehand crosscutting. I've avoided attempting any long crosscuts because I anticipate that they would pull off line. Some of the bandsaw books I've consulted say things like "Bandsaws come with a miter slot but it's basically useless due to blade lead."