</font><font color="blue" class="small">(  Thanks again to Andy for the seat time on his New Holland. Nice machine, good ergonomics, good fit and finish.... I think I discovered another choice that just may make my final decision even more difficult...the standard transmission!!! )</font> 
When I was looking to buy a tractor, I test drove a hydrostat model, and it just plain felt uncomfortable and unnatural for my foot and ankle to work the pedal.  I settled for the gear model, but our property is very flat.  I set it in the gear and range I need it in and I go about my work.  The only time I need to switch to another gear or range is when I've stopped and I'm about to start working on something different.  I simply felt that the gear model was better for my needs, although for some reason it sets everyone off every time I mention how much I love my gear model over a hydro model. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
John has driven both now, and he will have to make the same decision based on his needs.
I wanted to get the lightest tractor I could and still get a 60 inch mower.  Our property is wet and the 3000 pound Ford 8N tore things up pretty bad last summer, so I settled on the TC18, which was a shade over 1400 pounds.  John has 5 acres, flat and wide open, without any trees.  I'm thinking he needs something a little larger, big enough to support a 72 inch mower.  I think the TC30 is an excellent value (priced about the same as a TC24).  He's also checked out Kubota and Kioti.
P.S.  I'm jealous of the pictures of his new pole building!  /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif Hopefully I'll be able to build one later this summer.