[dayglored]

I have a Troy-Bilt riding (gas) mower to do the 95% of the lawn that's accessible with a big machine. And an electric self-propelled small mower to get between the plants and into corners that the riding mower can't reach. The electric is light (my wife can use it) and considerably quieter, but it can't replace the Troy-Bilt.

It's like anything else -- use a tool that's appropriate to the job/application. If that means two tools, so be it.

[Myrddin]

I would like a riding mower, but I have trees and the dogs have dug holes that would easily tip the mower. The front yard is entirely too small for a riding mower. The big chore remaining is to get all of the pine needles out of the grass in front and back. The mower won't pick them up. It takes a pair of rakes to gather and pick them up. Just once a year, but it's a lot of work annually.