I would choose #1 or #2 in all likelyhood, but that is ABSENT some additional information.
I want someone to bail me out if the tractor is stuck axel deep in the field behind me (bear in mind my property drops 60' from my front yard to my back yard and most of that drop is STEEP).
I want to be able to run to get a part and be back before dark, actually I want to be back before breakfast! I have several local dealerships, I make them compete for my money, I do keep them honest with long distance pricing, and factor in delivery, but for me, this is a big purchase and I want someone to hold my hand and comfort me when there is a problem.
Now that said, the Ventrac I own came out of central Wisconsin, a solid 7 hour drive. But that was the closest dealership. And so far they have been excellent, but it does bother me if there is a problem (so far nothing I can't deal with).
<font color="blue"> I would also like to point out that the issue of NO TAX really is a lie. Each state has a line on its state income tax form for you to fill out, in most states it is referred to as "use" tax, and it is tax evasion if you don't pay it. In some states the risk of getting caught are probably very very low, in other states it is probably reasonably risky. </font>
<font color="black"> What is missing from the equasion you lay out is nearly local dealers. When I went shopping last year for the TC24, I tried to look at Kioti but the closest dealer was about 120 miles away, now there are 2 dealers each withing 35 miles. So I would probably go beat them up before buying from someone really far away. And I used a distant dealer to beat up my local NH dealer on the price, but I was fair enough to consider that his relationship is worth something. So I assumed it was worth $500, and I was happy when he came it, all things considered, about $375 more expensive than the distant dealer. And when I later ordered the FEL, he was exactly the same price as the distant guy, but his price included picking up my tractor, installing the FEL and then returning it to me. And when, last month, I ordered a MMM deck, not only did he give me a very fair trade in, his price was $100 less on a 914A MMM than 2 distant dealers, and his price included picking up the tractor, installing the deck, and returning the tractor. The 2 distant dealers did not want my old RFM. Neither included shipping in their price (which would have been at least $300 more). And neither would install the deck. And when I bought a 3pt Snow Blower in Dec 03 (8 months ago) the local guy sold me a Farm King 60" deck, assembled, tested adjusted and delivered to the back of my tractor for about $400 less than the lowest internet price I could find from advertisers on TBN. So there is value to a relationship, and often it translates into cold hard cash and the savings that go with it. So I paid an extra $375 up front for my tractor by going local, but my local guy saved me $400 on the SnowBlower, $400+ on the 914A deck (plus about 4 hours to install it if you know what you are doing), plus saved me shipping charges & installation of the 12LA loader which easily would have been $500 to ship. So paying a little more saved me $1300 in the long run, plus I am NOT on the bottom of his warrenty list when I need a repair, plus I get free pick up and delivery when I need a repair, and those things add up. </font>