Well your sitrep sounds a bunch like mine. I ended up on an <font color=orange>Orange</font color=orange> B7800. We now have a horse, looking for more, ten acres, barn, etc. etc.
How did I get to the tractor, well I looked at this board for close to a year. There was BX fever back then. And I thought that was it for me. Until.... I went shopping. Until.... I started sitting on them, until.... I looked at my property numerous times and thought out what I wanted to do.
Move Manure - FEL and Spreader
Cut grass, Bushhog - Lawnmower and Bushog
Spread Stuff - FEL, Rake, Spreader, Blade
Plow snow - FEL and blade
Not kill myself - ROPS and seatbelt
Traction - 4WD
Power - 25-40HP
Price - 12 - 18k
Dealer - Unmatched quality
Final write off --------- wife.
Go not think about it for a while, then do the steps all over again. When I had the class of tractor nailed, I started going to dealerships in my area. The good thing you have done is read this board. The information is beyond compare.
Best of luck in your search. Remember IMHO a few thousand more over 20 years ain't much. Get what you NEED, get what you WANT. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Here is the <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin/compact/showflat.pl?Cat=&Board=owning&Number=225690&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=0&fpart=1#Post227882/> B7800 in Action</A> link.
HTH
-Mike Z.