The biggest advantage is speed. I find it much easier to cut to a pattern than a scroll saw is as the blade is always pushing the work piece onto the table while a scroll saw first pushes it against the table then pulls it away on the upstroke. Also the rocking for and aft of the scroll saw blade as it goes up and down makes following a trace more difficult. I have both the bandsaw and the scroll saw (some 20 years or more with each) and rarely use the scroll saw as the bandsaw will do most everything a scroll saw will do only faster and easier. The rare instances that the scroll saw is used could easily be done with a hand powered coping saw. Of course, since I have both I sometimes use the scroll saw. I have found that a 1/4 in metal saw blade in the bandsaw will do a very good job on most all materials. Do get a two wheel band saw with as big a throat as you can afford. A three wheeler is much more difficult to keep aligned and is much harder on blades.