I bought a Dewalt battery -> Ryobi tool converter so I could use their cordless PEX cincher. It works fine. But I left the battery connected for some days (something I do all the time with the Dewalt tools), and it bricked the battery. Presumably it was lacking some sense/control lines, or the adapter had its own large quiescent draw, or maybe that's just the expected behavior for the Ryobi system? Obviously I accept the blame and I won't make that mistake again, but the point is it's not seamless. Also the adapter certainly did affect the weight/balance.
I don't see any hard impediment to making compatible batteries, it just feels like a soft lock in of momentum where it's easiest to go with the flow. I've seen plenty of aftermarket batteries for the major brands, but I don't use up enough batteries where I want to chance them having a very limited lifespan (as Chineseum batteries often do IME). I'd rather pay slightly more for a solid brand and know it will last for several years. And I don't think there are any incentives for the name brands to make batteries that work with each other, especially considering there are only a handful of companies making the major brands.
I've pondered buying more Ryobi tools since I have the means to power them, but then I ask myself if I really need to buy it at all rather than buy lower quality (eg lack of brushless motors). Perhaps that calculus would be different if I had an adapter to Milwaukee and was looking at their tools, but honestly Dewalt has swamped the market with enough different models that the last thing I need is to figure out other company's line (more soft lock in!). And some tools are fine in corded versions from whatever brand, like I'm contemplating a handheld planer and don't see how cordless would be super helpful.
I don't see any hard impediment to making compatible batteries, it just feels like a soft lock in of momentum where it's easiest to go with the flow. I've seen plenty of aftermarket batteries for the major brands, but I don't use up enough batteries where I want to chance them having a very limited lifespan (as Chineseum batteries often do IME). I'd rather pay slightly more for a solid brand and know it will last for several years. And I don't think there are any incentives for the name brands to make batteries that work with each other, especially considering there are only a handful of companies making the major brands.
I've pondered buying more Ryobi tools since I have the means to power them, but then I ask myself if I really need to buy it at all rather than buy lower quality (eg lack of brushless motors). Perhaps that calculus would be different if I had an adapter to Milwaukee and was looking at their tools, but honestly Dewalt has swamped the market with enough different models that the last thing I need is to figure out other company's line (more soft lock in!). And some tools are fine in corded versions from whatever brand, like I'm contemplating a handheld planer and don't see how cordless would be super helpful.