In my way of thinking ?? ( LOL ) I think it's more about the EMISSIONS than the performance, who ...REALLY ..gives a damn, about perfomance in a mower anyway, I think MOST guys/gals just want a machine they can climb on, (or get behind) start like a car, go get the lawn cut, and get back to more enjoyable things, I think ?? DEPENDABILITY is the utmost concern of the folks, understand,.. I'm NOT trying to take away anything from someone that puts a lot of time and effort into their "Beautiful Homes & Gardens" style lawns and landscaping, many enjoy that, but I think there's fewer, than more. All the rules and regs put forth by the EPA and the crying environmentalists have cost this country dearly, ALL of the greatest things we enjoy in America were developed by people with a necessity or a great imagination to improve upon something to make our lives more enjoyable, and provide us more time to pursue our desires, being forced to comply by "law" is not part of our heritage, given enough time, thing's evolve, because someone, somewhere, thinks there's a better solution, and sure enough, it becomes reality. Besides what would all those Research & Development folks do, ?? try finding cures for mankind's dreaded diseases ?? I think not !