The snapper is good at leaf mulching, and yes i considered another one. This one still works so i will keep it for that. After 30 years of the estate in the same family, i have a need for a bigger lawn tractor to move stone, and landscape, towing. These are things the snapper is too small to do. I don't expect the JD to last the same, however it is a sweet machine. The price i got it for was very close to a new snapper anyway.
Rich