I considered a new snapper rear engine ride on / troybuilt neighbourhood rider (smaller / narrower ride on - great for tight spaces), but decided to keep / refurbish my old John Deere 160 lawn tractor. My research here in BC, Canada is that many of the tried and true (including major name brands), are now manufactured in China to keep the price comparable. For the $$$ you are considering, I think that you could find a suitable Snapper, or even look for / find a John Deere or Kubota lawn tractor. Dealers might have a few used ones also that might be worth considering, or may have been manufactured closer to home. For a lawn tractor, my preference is a Kohler engine over a B & S. This forum is great for doing the research. If the dealership is reliable, and knowledgable you should be fine. I have learned that there is value in the local expertise, and the relationship you have with the dealership is essential. I know nothing about Snapper retail support as they (Snapper) are not found in my immediate community -sorry.
I checked the reviews and found only one review (on this TBN site) for the items you were considering - the RER12.5/28 was given a 5* rating (very good). It looks just like the ones I had considered. When I just googled that unit, it was on sale at $1600 in Toronto Canada - I think you are pretty close on the cost estimate. When I looked at them a month ago, I considered a Sears Craftsman version, the Home Depot brand, or the Troybuilt. I thought that the troybuilt had equally good features ... including telescopic steering column, and swivelling seat (for ease of on/ off)... the hp for everything that I saw was about 9.5. The standard retail out here was $1000 (actually between $899 sale, and $999 retail.) All of these were manufactured in China, not sure if that is a factor, but all had B & S engines. If you need a Rear Engine Rider then the options are a bit more limited I found. I hope this helps - All the best in your purchase.