I think the question is missing context actually. There have been threads lately that raise a very related question - Toy vs. Tool - or more succinctly, what is the actual NEED involved in owning a tractor.
I would wager to say that a significant portion of TBNers as CUT owners have the latter because they enjoy operating them, enjoy a station in life where they can feasibly own and maintain one, etc. Would their domestic life collapse into rubble if they didn't have one? For many that answer could be a resounding NO. That being said, the context of Is Bigger Really Better is kinda moot.
For the puny few who make their livelihoods from agrigarian endeavors, machines are an absolute necessity that allows them to compete. This usually does not inclue the CUT class of machine. For those who supplement their other livelihoods with agrigarian efforts, they would be hard pressed to have that machinery figured into the balance sheets at the end of the day. Yet for those who have machines used for other commercial purposes, CUTs make good sense (landscapers, builders, etc.) For private home builders who want to DIY with site prep and materials handling, the high resale value of used CUTs can make a good bottom line if they unload the unit when it's original function is fulfilled.
ALL this being said, Is Bigger REALLY Better? I'm having a hard time finding relevance to this at all. If ya like BIG and can HAVE BIG and can USE BIG, then BIG it is. If ya think BIG is too BIG, then go SMALL if it doesn't impact your professional or domestic life.
Does anyone REALLY need a car that can hit speeds in excess of 90 mph? Most sold today will do that easily. Do people go that fast usually? Is it necessary? Does it make things better for them in general? I think not.
Bottom line? The tractor, in most cases here on TBN, can make our lives somewhat more comfortable and perhaps provide more leisure time for other things. How big it needs to be is directly related to how much comfort we can stand and how much leisure time we'd like!
(If all you have is FUN when using your tractor, then you probably didn't NEED one to begin with!)
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