I have a two acre lot with probably one and a quarter acres that gets mowed. lots of big pine trees. I bought an Exmark 13 years ago and have no regrets. I had initially almost bought a Sears model made by Ariens I think, so glad I didn't. Seat was on top of the engine which resulted in sitting high up which would have been a big problem mowing around our smaller trees like our crape myrtles. also would have made it difficult to mow the ditch with that high center of gravity. Best thing about the Exmark is that it has the welded steel deck instead of stamped sheet metal. As often as i run into things, (dyslexicia), I would have beat the hell out of a stamped deck by now.
I can mow my entire yard in an hour and fifteen minutes. My neighbor has the same size yard, takes him 6 -7 hours on his garden tractor style mower. He recently bought a zero turn......