Art, you always say that
ballast makes the tractor ride worse. I have found just the opposite, that with fluid in the tires the tractor is by far smoother, especially when going over rough terrain.
As far as fuel consumption, if the small increase actually affects the pocket book of those of us that use our tractor for 200 hours or less per year, then that person probably shouldn't have a tractor anyway. Most of us on TBN are not making a living with our tractors and so much of the stuff that is talked about is really only a concern for those few that are using their machines for 1000+ hours a year, year after year. Very common for it to be said don't do this or don't do that, you will wear your tractor out faster. How much faster, 10%, 15%, I'll be dead and gone before the tractor wears out even at the accelerated rate.
We on TBN are real good about making issues out of what are really none issues, stuff that the majority of us simply should not be concerned with. Myself included.