I bought an X720 for my dad, which I traded on a 950 and 2320 with 54d combo for mowing at his place and others down his way that I help. I believe this is a statement to appeal to the inexperienced user out there and nothing more. I can tell you without doubt that the 720 will start the mower deck from a dead idle, but probably no one is more the subject of that statement than my dad. These machines have a "cushioned" PTO engagement and one can easily start them at WOT, though I never do. As most of us know, these machines are meant to mow at WOT, or close to it, to achieve the best performance and advertised blade tip speed. When my dad, who is 80 and has some very mild dementia, first used his machine after instruction, he called me to complain it did not cut well. I went to check things out and asked him to repeat exactly the steps he did before. He did, including mowing a couple rounds at idle. I truly suspect that JD recommends this in part knowing it likely would not hurt the machine and to say they instructed owners to actuate and mow at WOT. I still am a strong believer in being no more than 1/2 when starting the PTO and going from there. It is not a matter of power, though, as the 720 has plenty to do this even if one were sitting in thick grass at the time.
John M
