Last Christmas I was at Disney World and I happened to talk to someone who designed lawn tractors. I had some of the same question you have. I was looking at Home Depot for a lawn tractor to replace my Simplcity. He told me to take a pass on the cheaper Deere tractors and buy a LTR180. I love it!!!!!! It has a 42 deck that throws the clipping out the rear and it spreads them better then I could have imagined. The thing also bags like nothing I ever seen. AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET OFF TO DUMP THE CLIPPINGS. He said the tractor was originailly designed for the Euro market. Anyway I looked at the LT line and LX and this thing is sweet. The guy said not to wait to long to buy one of the currently built Deere tractors. I guess there redesigning the whole lawn tractor line. Which means ??? Maybe more cheaper tractor, he wouldn't say much about it, but didn't seem to impressed. This guy actually owns one of the first LTR's and said he'd part with it when he dies or can afford an X tractor which ever comes first..