I have one and use it as the primary snow removal machine for my London Ontario home which is right between Lake Huron and Lake Erie (think Lake Effect snow). It works great.
Tecumseh Snow King engine (its OK). 8hp, I've bogged her down a bit in the heavy when snows comes over the front inlet but she throws snow awesome and we get lots of it here. Usually need the drift cutters due the way our drive is situated, lots of very high drifts that with some time and finesse this machine does a great job.
2 Stage, not the newer 3 Stage.
I'd buy it again if I had to, so I give a thumbs up.
I prefer a walk behind for where I live due to engine is made and jetted for very cold temps, (I keep 0W oil it) the machine is light and agile and maneuverable takes up little space. Starts with one pull of the cord but has electric start 110VAC. Best solution for high snow areas in my opinion.
Garden Tractors with front plows are useless up here. Garden Tractors with big blowers are great, but take up too much space for me and their engines and trannies (trannies just don't dress for winter
) are not really made for -10 to -30 C in my opinion...so why beat them up? It CC 8hp Blower was $1200 new.
That's my 2 cents Canadian...which is actually 5 cents since we abolished the penny 2 years ago.