You are right, R4's don't sell well on larger tractors. I could PM you an M6040 or 7040 photo with R4's that is in great shape and low hours but no takers. R-1's in FWA are tough on the grass so I use 2WD and am reasonably careful. No damage unless the ground is wet. I put in lawns and occasionally use my 8000 lb Deere 5520 in the dry weather of summer and I can discern do difference in ground damage unless the R-1's are in FWA and I make tight turns under speed.
Lawns are way more durable than people give them credit for. I have R-4's on smaller 4200 lb tractors and R-1's on my MX5100, etc and JD5520 and all are OK. I really don't see much difference on grass. Now, I didn't always think this way and really agonized over 1's and 4's on the MX5100. In my view, much concern over nothing and puckering got a grip on me for a while till I relaxed. For field work, however, there is a definate difference between R1's and 4's and 4's won't cut it. You are not going to hurt fields in dry Tennessee in the summer. How many damaged fiels do you see when you drive around? I'll bet none or nearly none.
Maybe look at it this way; where will you use the tractor most and where will it be most important to you? Either way you won't go all that far wrong. Just don't get hung up on R-4's thinking they are some sort of majical. They aren't.
By the way, R-4's have way less ground clearance and cause more compaction in clay soil. I'll bet you need ground clearance and I'll bet you have clay and that compaction is an issue. Again, my 2 cents here.