Depending on the dealers economic status and if they have to purchase machines thru a distributor, their markup, which isn't a whole lot, can vary. Power equipment dealers and car dealers operate very differently. A small car dealer may sell 100 new cars per month, a very big power equipment dealer may sell 50 machines a month in season.
As for machine comparison, I own an X-ONE and have serviced a few Hustler machines over the years. Hustler has the most basic and simple maintenance schedule of any that I have had experience with. In addition to their maintenance schedule, the V belt tensioning system that they have is by far the best to deal with. Also the parking brake system that Hustler has is simple, the parking brake is applied as soon as the operator moves the levers outboard in the neutral position. This is particularly good if the operator needs to get off the machine periodically to remove objects in their way. The operation of the X-ONE for slow an tedious control is by far superior to any machine that I have operated. This has been a very favorable operating characteristic in a cemetery around grave stones and such, some operators may not be concerned about slow speed control and operation.
As for engines, my X-ONE has a Kawasaki FX730V and has performed flawlessly for 400 hours so far. As we also have to mow 5 acres of unused cemetery, this machine does that area with no problem, sometimes the grass is 2 feet tall and needless to say that takes more time.
As for engine choice, you will need to make that decision. As I have mentioned, were I to be in the market for a new machine, I would consider an engine with EFI, however EFI does require more electrical equipment to be installed on both the machine and the engine making the machine more complex and expensive.
Just my thoughts!!!:laughing::biggrin::smile: