re: Best riding mower between JD, Cub Cadet, and Husqvarna?

Use to own 5 dealerships and sold Husqvarna, serviced JD home center units, and was a Cub Cadet dealer.
JD, made by JD. Took the plant tour.
Husqvarna is by Husqvarna.
Cub Cadet, made by MTD now owned by Stanley Black & Decker in Martin, TN.
Actually at one time better built in the entry level series than Husqvarna and JD.
JD and Husqvarna went to the cheaper composite transmission and MTD chose not to on the Cub Cadet.
Lower end units Troy-bilt, craftsman, yard machines at one time were made in Willard, OH.

They all have low end which is avaliable at the big box stores and the dealers sell them. Really no money in selling them. I brought them in truck load quantity to hopefully sell accessories or get service work.

Then you have a mid and upper range units.
1 or 2 of the Garden Tractors in HOP and Cub Cadet at one time had the locking differential. Really to help around hills in in a muddy situation in South LA.
These are typically dealer exclusives sold only at dealers.

Usually they have upgraded transmissions, engines, and decks.
Sold alot of the Cub Cadets with the drive shafts.
I still got one over twenty years old.
Mostly sold in NE United States where they used with mini tillers, snow plows, and leveling blade with weight kits.
I brought one in my stock for myself in 2014 and kept it on my floor plan until I had to pay for it. Sold that one to my neighbor on Toledo Bend and he still using it.
Those were expensive, but solid units even JD and HOP could not touch in quality.

Just everything going to Zero turns now as the upper end ones cost just as much as a prosumer zero turns or smaller stand on units.

Stanley Black and Decker bought Hustler, MTD which includes Cub Cadet.
I sold out right before this happened, so I really have not kept up with the changes.