I don't mess around with this Blower unless there is 8 inches of snow or more! I have a rotary broom for all the Pee-Wee snows. 12 inch snows aren't all that RARE in Northern Wisconsin. In my opinion taking half a swipe just means you bough too big of a blower. I want to take a full bite, and let it take its time if necessary. These little tractors just DON'T have the power to run a 54 inch blower in the heavy deep snow. a 54 inch blower might work great on my 2520, but it would make my X475 shake in its boots from intimidation!
My X475 is only 23.5 HP if memory serves me right, and being a Gas engine, the torque is very low. A Diesel would handle the 54 inch blower better because of the Torque.
I don't see why you guys want bigger and bigger blowers when the tractors can't power the smaller blower in deep snow. I thing the 47 inch blower is Perfect on the X series because it covers the wheel tracks, but HP wise its almost too much for them.
When I first used the 47 inch 2 stage blower on my X475, I was baffled when the engine bogged down in deep snow. I honestly thought it would just blast thru the deep snow with ease, and I was dead WRONG! I burned almost a Half tank of gas in it in 2 hrs of blowing this big snow. It was working its butt off. Mowing it wouldn't use 1/3 that much gas.