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This particular design was first made by Edward Preston (#1369) in the late 19th C. and then by Record (#2506), a descendant company of Preston until they closed their doors in the 1980s. I have a Stanley #79 side rabbet, but you know how tool lust goes. A side rabbet in the shop is a "must have" tool. It's ability to get into tight places and ease joints is unmatched. The Stanley is humble, but works. A good review of the #79 is here: http://www.supertool.com/StanleyBG/stan10.htm#num79
Well after Christmas I got my new Wood River out to tune (all planes need tuning) and I was really disappointed, almost to the point of returning it to Woodcraft. You cannot use this plane without injuring your hand. The edges of the plane are sharp which makes it difficult to push the plane through a groove, rabbet, or dado. You must also be very careful with the blade on top which cuts the reverse direction.
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The little knob on the side rabbet is almost useless. I really felt stupid getting this plane - stupid in the sense of why I didn't see this problem in it's design in the first place, and stupid for letting tool lust get the better of me. Rather than returning it, I stuck it on the self.
Well, yesterday I created a solution that works. I turned a "hot dog" out of some hickory that you grip when using this plane. I cut a groove in the dog, plugging the ends. The addition of the hot dog makes this a workable plane I am happy to say.
As for being stupid, that probably will remain. 
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