re: Are Zero turns needed for residential mowing?

I only have a little over 1/4 acre. When I bought my house I only had a regular push mower. Front yard isn't bad at all, the previous owner sodded with centipede. The back yard though... The neighborhood was previously a cow pasture, and the back yard is basically still that, just more level. That was a hell to push mow, especially mid-summer. Then I inherited a self propelled mower from my grandfather. Much better than "me" power, but still quite a chore to get through the back yard. Then my dad got himself a ztr, and handed me down his older 46in rider. Finally it wasn't an intense workout to cut my little 1/4 acre. I'd never go back to walking. It still took just as long too cut with the rider because I found myself doing tons of laps to cut little amounts of grass neatly. This year I got a ztr for myself, so much better and more efficient. It's actually fun to cut the grass now.

To actually answer your question...needed? No. Better? I'd say, and I have a lot less grass than you.