I dont think there is any valid argument for either pills or powder being any safer than the other. Just cause some one has purchased a pill press doesnt make pills more genuine. It could infact mean the opposite. We simply just dont know what might make someone tick.
I dont necessarily agree that the current state of MDMA availability in the States wont change. A great example of a shift change is the 'Shake & bake' method for meth manufacture. Once this synth was refined then for a while 'cold medicine' meth became an epidemic. Nothing to say that a new synth or precursor may be discovered for MDMA. Nothing to say that a new reliable source may reveal itself. As many of us know reliable sources already exist for kick ass pills worldwide. Already I see the price dropping on online sources I think over time this market will get bigger and bigger and more widely available. Lets at least hope
My theory about the current state of MDMA in USA.
(1) LE have become wise. Border control is getting very sophisticated and they know what they are looking for.
(2) Pill presses & RCs are readily available.
(3) Penalty for manufacture and import of MDMA is very high VS posession of RCs and pill presses.
(4) Pressing RCs is a lot easier for your average person than manufacturing MDMA.
(5) Most users have no clue about test kits.
(6) Many users just want to get fucked up. Many RC pills will suffice.
(7) For some reason Mexican drug Cartels dont seem that stimulated by MDMA and pills. They are more interested in Meth and Coke.
I dont agree that availability of precursors is the problem in the USA as safrol is not the only starting component. Besides sassafras actually grows in certain parts of the States. Safrol can be found everywhere.
If you are capable and able to manufacturer MDMA very likely you will have the intelligence to find the needed precursors. I think the punishment for manufacturer is more the issue. Look at Strike he got only a few years for manufacture. He later got only a few years for supplying chemicals to labs all over the world. Try doing that now and wave goodbye to 20 years..