Decided to take a chance and went with a Honda HHT25SLTA 4 cycle trimmer....
Cool story...
A guy I know who services commercial lawn crew trimmers/blowers/etc for a living purchased 2 like Honda HHT25SLTA 4 cycle trimmers and 2 husq 224Ls trimmers that were returned to home depot. Turns out the hondas were returned due to having weight more than expected and an idle needed adjustment. How would I kow...the box the honda was shipped in had the name of the person who returned it. I contacted and asked.
Long story short...I bought form him one of the honda HHT25SLTA trimmers with a speed feed head he added. It is as good as "New" condition and was totally serviced (oil added, idle adjusted, totally check over) by guy who is trusted to service lawn professionals equipment...absolutely flawless and still in the box it shipped in originally for $200.00 even. Retails between 329.00 to 359.00 plus tax and another 30 for the speed feed head with extra gator line to boot.
Have used it for two weeks now...No issues what so ever. I have turned it in any position with no hesitation in running. Weight to me is not an issue at all. I do use the shoulder harness. 4-cycle means no mixing gas and oil. Runs on first pull (which my 7 year old daughter can do). Quiet. Wow...very quiet. An the power to me is impressive.
Oh yea...he is keeping the other honda for himself and after servicing the two Husq 224Ls, he is sending them to south america as part of a mission trip.
To add a little more to the story...I let him know I was upgrading my lawn equipment this year with mower, trimmer, etc, and was looking for a good leaf blower. He had two personal blowers (a Mikita he used and an Echo PB500H he bought as backup (used twice in great condition). Ended up buying the Echo PB500H.