<font color=blue>"When someone says "gear", are they referring to the hyrostatic/glide transmission?"</font color=blue>
Since no one else has jumped in to answer this question for you, I'll give it a go.
I believe that when people use the term "gear", that is exactly what they mean. You must manually shift the transmission, including pushing the clutch in and out.
The glide/shuttle transmissions (different names by different manufacturers for the same basic thing) allow you to shift from forward to reverse by moving a lever that is usually mounted on the steering column, without using the clutch. This is only true if you're staying in the same gear range. If you want to change ranges, you'd need to stop, clutch, then go.
The true hydrostatics don't use clutches. Some, like the Class III Boomers, don't even have clutch pedals. You can change direction by using a treadle pedal (Kubota) or by pressing on the forward pedal or the reverse pedal (JD and NH). I'm not entirely clear what some of the other manufacturers, such as PT, Kioti, MF, Case, etc. use.
That's a brief explanation. I know that there are guys out there that are much more knowledgeable than I, and if I incorrectly explained anything, then 1) they'll make sure to let you (and me /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif) know, and 2) I apologize for adding to your confusion. I guess that it would mean that I'm even more confused than I realized I was! /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif
Note: Kioti does not, at this time, have a hydrostatic transmission. Word is that they will come out with one this fall for their compacts up to 30hp.