Let's not confuse "WOT" with setting the engine speed control to the maximum position, as is required. The governor will maintain the the engine speed at the design RPM by modulating the throttle opening according to the load. At maximum load the throttle will be wide open to maintain the RPM. If the load increases beyond that, such as getting into thick, tall wet grass, the engine will slow and stall even at WOT. On an engine without a governor, at WOT with no load, it will over-rev and eventually destroy itself. It's not the same thing.