For twenty years I used the same worm drive skil with a diamond blade to cut block and on occasion veneer flagstone. They have the torque required. Regular circular saws would burn up pretty quick. The skil still runs great despite all the dust it ate. Same with a 4” Makita grinder. Used it so much in masonry that when I go to cut wood with a regular circular saw feels it awkward to me.

Hey, worms gatta have jobs too.

You mean you don't want to use this bad boy?

https://www.skil.com/saws/worm-drive-saws/

Back when I was in the trades be used both. Worm drives were, for the most part, used when we needed more torque to cut through something larger, thicker, or more dense. Worm drives use gears to provide that extra torque, as opposed to the standard direct-drive circular saws that you'll see most often. If you're just cutting regular plywood, 2x4s, etc. a standard circular saw should be fine.

When you need to cut through something way to tough worm drive is the answer. My cousin had a worm drive from the 70s with no guard that would damn near pull your arm off because of the torque.

Ask Larry Haun.