Also it begins with something customers don’t care much about–redesign and upgrade–but which companies love to hype. This is bloated marketing-speak, more about selling than filling customer needs.

Toro gets good reviews from Consumers Union (Consumer Reports), and seems to be a good model–quite effective. But don’t take that info from a seller of the equipment, with a vested interest in hyping and moving product. Look for independent voices.

This is a paid, not independent, review.
And, if you remove this comment, it will appear elsewhere–and I’ll note that you removed it, thus piling on more evidence of complicity with the manufacturer.