Kevin -
Having owned a 2320, I can tell you the only real complaint I had with the machine was the gearing. Yes, low seems too low at times - and when in high on a slope, the hydraulic whine is loud. But, the tractor always pulled through, even when plowing deep snow with a custom built 84" blade. I never recall complaining about the low being too low for a steep slope - only concerned me with the whine it exhibited in high. And in every other regard, the build quality and strength of components is remarkable.
Loaded tires means that there's a liquid filling the inside of the tire itself so there's maximum weight as low as possible. It compromises the ride substantially, comfort-wise. Add R4s to the mix and long periods over rough terrain can be uncomfortable. But, it's a dedicated install - meaning, if you have wheel weights, you can remove them for a season such as mowing and reinstall for winter plowing. My guess is, if you go with any of the machines you've been looking at, 200 lbs isn't going to make a bit of difference in terms of sinking into your lawn. I think removable wheel weights would be much more noticeable on your 318.
I now have a 2305 for a variety of reasons, including $$. The 54" mower deck on the 2320 is every bit of $2400 + tax if you buy it at a later date - add a few hundred for the 62" - the dealer doesn't seem to budge much on the retail prices of attachments. For that kind of money, many suggest a second tractor instead.
I cannot afford to justify a $13,000 loader, so a versatile machine - that does the tasks you're trying to accomplish - seems to offer the most value. I simply don't use rear implements that require fine adjustment, which was another benefit of the 2320 (position control). Tilling or brush hogging with a 2305 is perfectly appropriate with the 3-pt hitch adjustment it has, in my opinion. I'd adjust that opinion if you were looking to finely grade a large area with a rear blade. Also, the only consistent complaint I've ever read about the limitations of a 2305 come from users of post-hole diggers, as there's limited lift height. But I suspect they'd have to admit that they're not putting in new fences every day - if they were, they'd have a dedicated machine.
If you have a few minutes, take a look at the 2305. It's the same engine as the 2320, similar build quality, more appropriate gearing (due largely to the smaller tires, I expect), offers more ground clearance than the x700 series, way, way better resale, lower center of gravity and a similar tread width/wheel track as the 2320. Just be aware that the ROPS is fixed from the factory.
The lure of a "real" tractor like the 2320 is undeniable. But, in reality, the addition of larger tires and position control (and yes, capacity) was not necessary for my new property and I'm very happy with the switch to a 2305.
Enjoy the shopping!
