X300 transmission-good or bad?

I'm in the market for a new riding mower. My first impulse is for theJD 300x. I currently own a JD Stx 38 and it has given me super service since I bought it in 1989. It still runs great but the deck s beginning to break down. And I just want a new one. So you would think another JD would be in order. Now my budget is no more than 3k and the 300 can be had for that. But I read so many negative things about the k46 transmission that I am very reluctant to purchase it. Do any of you folks know if there have been changes or recalls to that transmission in the past couple of years? Any other brands of mowers that are similar to the JD but without the transmission issues? Thanks for all replies.