lol...just because I didn't take your suggestion to get the starter tested?
For what I purchased this new starter for, I can use it as a backup or parts when the other one gives out. Being that starters are one of the most widely replaced parts on a mower engine, I didn't see the harm in having a backup on hand.
To elaborate a bit more on my testing...
I thought my battery may have been part of the problem, but it isn't even 3 month's old. I charged it and my charger has a "start" mode in which the engine was still having the same issue where the starter wouldn't rotate the engine a full revolution.
I then removed the battery and used a set of jumper cables running directly from my Jeep while it was running to the starter connection and engine casing.
Again, the starter couldn't rotate the engine a full cycle.
That pretty much told me that the starter may have some issues, like the windings being melted as I had described earlier.
I can fairly easily rotate the engine by hand, so I don't think there is anything internal that is causing resistance as a problem.