Then comes Box Blade or Regular Grader Blade.
I would vote for "both" as I use them for different uses. A box blade is for leveling material, a rear blade is for scraping material.
If you wanted a debate, other than "what brand of tractor do I get?," the most common topics of debate generally involve what tires to get, whether or not to fill them, and if so, what to fill them with. Cab vs. open station is probably next, followed by purchasing a large compact like a Kubota MX with hydrostiatic transmission vs. one of the smaller full-sized utility tractor with a gear transmission.
IMO the term "subcompact" is a misnomer and just a marketing term...I've never seen any industry standards that discern the terms...
Any tractor smaller than what is typically considered a full size machine (think 9n etc...) is a "compact" tractor...some are more compact that others...
Methinks the term subcompact was coined to prevent them from being called "mini-tractors"
There are no hard and fast definitions, and I would agree the terms come from what group of buyers the tractor is marketed toward, but here are the general features today:
A subcompact tractor generally has:
- Category 0 or limited category 1 3-point hitch
- A hydrostatic transmission only
- Less than 1000 pounds of loader lift capacity
- No more than 26 engine HP
- Rear tires of 27" diameter or less
- Dry weight of 1750 lb or less
- Belly mower and front/mid PTO option
- Marketed toward residential buyers
A compact tractor generally has:
- Category 1 3-point hitch
- A hydrostatic transmission with sometimes the option of a gear transmission
- About 900 to 2000 pounds of loader lift capacity
- Bevel gear MFWD front axle
- Between 25 and about 60 engine HP and an engine displacement of 150 CID (2.5 liters) or less
- A dry weight of roughly 1750 to 4000 pounds for an open station unit
- Rear tires larger than 27" in diameter
- For US market models, rear PTO is 540 RPM only
A utility tractor generally has:
- Category 2 or 3 3-point hitch
- No hydrostatic transmission
- 50 to less than 200 engine HP and a displacement of between 150 and less than 450 CID
- Planetary gear MFWD or 2WD front axle
- Over a ton of loader lift capacity
- A dry weight of over 4000 lbs for an open station unit
- No belly mower
- Rear PTO only (1 3/8" diameter only)
- No duals
- Able to be fitted with a loader
- Marketed toward agricultural buyers
An 8N Ford would probably be considered a compact today. It is about the same physical size as a Kubota L or Deere 4 series, weighs roughly 2500 pounds, has a category 1 3-point hitch, and has a 120 CID 30 HP engine.