I know that you want to stay away from Toro, but the 20384 model will meet all your needs, plus it has a 5 year warranty. Honda also has a unit, model HRX217VLA, which has all you want, but the variable speed is dial controlled, plus it also has a 5 year warranty. Both units are built to last and the biggest difference is how the operator controls the speed. Sounds like you want quality, so please stay away from any unit will a steel deck, you'll regret it next year. I'm a Toro guy, so all I'll add is Good Luck in your search. If you have any other questions, as to comparing exact models, please post back and we will answer them for you.