My
GR2120 has no ROPS, but I absolutely HATE the fact that ALL the "better" lawn tractors now have hydrostatic drives - NOT because I hate hydro but because they force a higher seat on the tractor and it makes it a nightmare to cut under our semi-dwarf orchard. The old Wheelhorse sat low to the ground, and I would love to own a decent quality gear drive tractor that sat that low now, but - they don't make 'em. This was true 9 years ago before I bought the Expletive Kubota. I bought it because it seemed a little lower in height than the John Deere model with the diesel engine and 4 wheel drive, along with being a little less expensive.
I don't understand why it's impossible to buy a decent lawn/garden tractor that doesn't sit so high.
In many other respects, the
GR2120 has been a nightmare but this particular one isn't Kubota's fault - it's EVERY machine out there.
Years ago I used to sit behind a Locke 75 inch reel mower on a sulky that was just off the ground. The Locke didn't even require hand steering because it had a bar that allowed you to steer it with your feet. I didn't use the sulky much because it was only good on level ground and the Locke was a pleasure to walk behind anyway, it was mostly a novelty thing.
It seems the lawn care thing has only degraded over the past 50 years, and things have only gotten worse.