I replaced my Honda self propelled mower with a new Toro. I was going to get a basic model, but I got used to the blade brake that allows the machine to keep running while the mower is stopped. This is particularly convenient if you are bagging leaves, etc while mowing. I usually mulch. This came with their higher end model. The upgrade cost $100. In retrospect, I could have done away with the blade brake and just gone with the electric starter. The electric starter came with the model that I got and it is so easy not to have to pull the cord, that a stalled mower is no big deal and not much of a time waster. I have gone through some pretty thick grass and only stalled out a couple of times. My Honda would have stalled more frequently and I would have had to put it on the lowest pace of three settings to get through the grass. The Toro has "personal pace". It has a variable speed transmission which accelerates and decelerates based on how fast you walk. This requires a bit of forward pressure on the handle which is no big deal. It would have been a bigger deal if I were mowing the lawn with a torn rotator cuff, which I did two years ago until the repair. I could rest my arm on the handle and not exert pressure with the Honda. On the other hand, I had the Honda on the highest pace setting when I fell and tore my cuff. In that particular area, I would would have slowed my pace and not have had to run to catch up with the mower in a slippery area. So far I like it. There were features I liked about the Honda as well. I particularly like that I paid about $350 less and got an electric starter with the Toro. Parts are more available and when it dies, I won't feel compelled to continue to dump more $$$ into it just to keep it. I mowed yesterday but we are getting 3 days of rain, so I am going out to mow again to lower the grass level. (90 minutes walking fast). If I don't I will be looking for grazing animals to help me out. 
