I've got a gear tractor and I really like my seat switch set up. The only time its a problem is when I want to stand up for a better view it kills the engine. But the truth is, i'm probably better off not standing up anyway but you can take the tractor out of gear and the switch won't kill it. Somebody mentioned a DIY override switch that you had to hold down to maintain the override. I think that would be a decent idea.
My tractor safety switchs work this way:
You do not have to be in the seat to start the tractor but the following two apply:
The tractor will not start if in gear.
The tractor will not start with PTO engaged.
The engine stops if the tractor is in gear and no weight is in the seat.
The engine stops if the PTO is engaged and no weight is in the seat excpet:
If the tractor is not in gear and the seat is leaned forward PTO will continue to run.
This allows me to do everything I want to do and do it safely. I can start the tractor from the ground without risk. I can also run something like a pump, a
chipper or a log splitter without having to be in the seat.
The only thing it keeps me from doing is standing up while driving, which I mentioned above. I cannot think of any other way that it limits me.
My only fear is that one day I'm going to be working on an old tractor without all these safeguards and I'm going to do something dumb like cranking it from the ground......