What new printer/extruder features do you want?

[Ama-fessional Molder]

well if you have to add a kiln and metal processing kit, it's not really an improvement in the printer.

You wouldn't need a "metal processing kit" (whatever that is), just a desktop printer and a kiln.
Then you need this:



Problem is you need the chamber filled with an inert gas. The cost would be significantly higher, even if you built a small desktop unit, than just FDM printing with a plastic binder.

You need the metal powder, a lot more energy, and consumable gas at the very least. Add milling tools to the cost if you want secondary processing.

yeah but it's not actually anything to do with the printer - just a different type of filament.

That would be the point, wouldn't it?