yeah maintenance on lawn equipment is more complicated that an average consumer wants it to be...definetly simpler than a car, and cars aren't all that bad:
-change oil every 5-10,000 miles
-change brake pads when your brakes get crunchy
-change clutch if you have a stick shift
-change transmission fluid every 100,000 miles if you have an automatic
-change brake fluid every 100,000 miles...
and unless you are trying to spend to much money that about does it...of course there's manufacturer error and your serpentine belt. Stick with the highest rated brands! As far an lawn equipment it's all cheap trash in comparison...