Well stated, bertsmoblie1. Growing up, my family first had a John Deere Model 60 lawn tractor and a few years later a Cub Cadet Model 73 with the Kohler K161 engine. I mowed a total of 7 yards to make money as a kid. My grandparents yard included two barn lots so it was about 4 acres. Our own yard was right at 2 acres and two other yards I mowed were about 2 acres each. I mowed them all every week in the spring, then about every ten days or so in the heat of the summer. That Cub Cadet was still running and mowing when I finally made the decision to let it go about 11 years ago, give or take.
I was a stone cold believer in the Cub Cadet name and products. Then, as we all know, Cub Cadets were suddenly being built by MTD. Don't get me wrong. MTD does make a few products that are worth their asking price, but they will NEVER compare to what a Cub Cadet USED to be. After I sold the 73, I bought a newer Cub Cadet thinking it was just like the old 73. Boy, was I surprised.
Then I got into doing some repair and service out of my garage and had the opportunity to own several other brands of mowers. I had a few more Cub, a few Husqvarnas, and, most recently, a Craftsman. I'm just a little anal when it comes to maintaining my own equipment. I wash my tractors several times a year, as well as doing two full services on them each year. I also wax every metal part on them each winter while I'm doing a complete servicing and use a heavy duty metal protector on parts than need it and also treat all the plastic with Armor All. It does help keep the tractors in top running order, but not one of the new Cubs, Husqvarnas, or this Craftsman can hold a candle to that old Cub 73.