Boy being able to afford being a land owner...that is a true statement. It cost every where you turn.
One thing I think might be missed in the cost per acre of mulching and I could be way wrong is how dense the growth is, I suspect it is much thicker in Tenn than what you have. As the saying goes until you price it you just don't know. A friend of mine told me his dad did a lot of clearing with peanuts. Back to the time issue. He would plant peanuts all around the roots and let his hogs root them up.
You may find renting the equipment yourself to be an option. If like here be sure to ask the rate for a week and not per day. I think 3 days is a week but be sure on hours allowed. A excavator with thumb of sufficient size to pull the tree is a quick work.
I realize it was said do not mulch certain brush you have but boy on the right trees and shrubs mulchers do pretty work.
As to profit of surgeon, do you mean tree surgeon?
CBtruf, if you don't mind my asking what kind of mulcher do you use? I have seen them on such as Bobcat Skidders. Those have large oil coolers and enclosed cabs to due debris. I still like the large cutters on the logger style skidders. But those may be rotary cutters. kt