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I’ve been giving real thought to a burst, actually, it would seem the best compromise. Or maybe a finish that lets the grain show through.
I went with a router table because it seemed like the way to get the straightest, most accurate cut. And it did work well, although I probably took too much off at too slow a speed - hence the tear-out. I’ll do better next time. Also the thought of using a router table scared me, and I wanted to push myself a bit.
It would be a real shame to lose all of that lovely grain pattern. You could try re-sawing down the centreline then gluing it back together minus a couple of mm and extending the parts you've already routed.
Alternatively rework the scratch plate to hide it
Or some kind of burst may look good.
Out of curiosity why did you opt for a router table over hand held and template?