While I don't own a Classic model (only mowing about 2.5 acres), I do own a Dixie. At the time I was looking, The Classic was only about $700 more that the Silver Eagle that I got, but I felt then, and still do believe, that the smaller frame ZTR was a better fit for my application. I bought a Dixie Chopper Silver Eagle LT2700-60D. My only complaint with it is I run out of grass to cut too soon!
When I first got mine back in June '07, my grass had not been cut for probably 3 weeks (read at least 12" tall in places) due to existing mower being down (back-ordered part). The DC was an absolute beast in that tall, wet grass. I cut it once at the 4" and after I let dry, I hit it again a couple more times, and was left with very little I had to rake up. In some of the heaviest areas, I just kept blowing the same direction toward the hedge row.
With regard to leaf raking, I would say it depends upon how many trees you have, their size, and how dense they are on your property. In my case, while the deck does do a great job of chopping them up, I'm considering a collection unit for the simple fact that I have 8 fully mature trees 2 maple, 4 willow, 1 ash, and 1 box elder - within probably a quarter acre. I just think that's a few too many pounds of leaves per sqft for the area to absorb as the grass tends to be a little thin despite using low sunlight seed.
Before I got mine, I had heard/read all the complaints and negative comments about DCs from a few different forums, and was initially not going to even entertain a second look at them. But fortunately for me, I not only looked again, but demoed and bought one. The truth prevailed.
In hindsight, I now believe most of these derogatory statements about DCs to be either extremely out-dated experiences, or out-and-out lies. In fact, when I posed just such a question (Due to every company's commitment to continuing improvement in product development, when does one's experience with a particular make/model no longer hold any validity?), I received no answers.
For me, the DC was easily the most bang for the buck. I had looked at most other makes' small frame, full hydro not IZT, 60", min 23hp, and had pretty much narrowed it down to a Scag Tiger Cub (yes, they do, or at least did, actually make a 23hp 60" Cub - a model my local dealer actually didn't know was offered), and the LT2700-60D. The Scag was $1500 more, had at least a two week lead-time, and was not, despite the manufacturer feeling otherwise, considered by the dealer to be a good combination (they tried to sell me a 48" floor model instead). The DC dealer had probably two of each LT, I lost count all the Coatesvilles, at least one diesel, and one LPG model in stock.
Okay, let me get this straight: more HP for less money, and it's in stock. Hello! This is a no-brainer. I checked one out a Saturday, demoed one on the dealer's lot on Tuesday, bought one on Thursday, was mowing my lawn by 1:30 Friday afternoon, and grinning from ear-to-ear by 1:31. Come to think of it, I'm still grinning every time I mow the lawn.
Check one out for yourself. If you like it and the dealer, buy it; if you don't, go someplace else.
Sorry for the long-winded post, but I wanted to be thorough.