Doesn't matter if it will run in everything else you own, It could still be classified as bad gas. If this engine has been built since 2015 it could be a fuel quality issue, not bad gas, but off just enough to cause starting issues. What everybody is talking about with the choke is they want you to make sure it is closing all the way. Just takes a few thousands from complete close to cause problems.
The drain plug issue came about because several of the mower manufacturers designed their decks to where there is just a hole for the crankshaft therefore no location to access the drain plug. Some of the front tine tillers with vertical crankshaft engines are the same way. Try turning a 200 pound tiller over to drain the oil. Which also explains the new never change oil Briggs engines.
