re: Have to buy a new mower. Any suggestions or warnings?

I cut 4 acres and have a 61 inch cut. I would not want any smaller. I opted for the SCAG Turf Tiger and it is a machine. My neighbor was in the same boat you are and researched for what seemed like a year. At first he was going to buy a bad boy or hustler but ended up spending the extra coin and purchased a scag cheetah. I suggest that you go look at several different ones to see which one you like best though.