After all consideration, it looks like a choice has been made. Actually, I was given an allowance....
No Home Depot here, we're going with a local company and getting a Toro Z5000. The owner of the company lives around the corner and I informed the salesman I'd show up at the owner's door if we had a problem.
They'll deliver it, pick it up for service, return, etc., for no charge.
Cub Cadet kinda sux for service locally, so that pretty much took care of the decision.
Pics in the near future.
Ok, so I had to bribe a couple of relatives to push for the ZT, but what she doesn't know won't hurt us... Right....