Congratulations! Sounds like you made out well, and have set up a great relationship with your dealer at the same time! Sounds like your missus is a real gem, too.
I can understand the rider- I got a used MMM for my 2310 and have been tickled pink with it, after years of walk-behind; this is my first-ever "rider." Not only is it (at least) 4X as fast, it does a better job!
I'll let others with larger tractors talk about the bucket; mine's only a 12"....
--Or is it a 10"? Where are buckets measured from? At the teeth mine's 12", but the bucket itself is more like 10"....

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'07 GC2310 TLB, 2360 snowblower, 2325 MMM, Bro-Tek thumb
'05 VW Jetta Wgn TDI
Numerous antique Japanese motorcycles