I mow about two acres with mine. I had an L-100 before this one that was dead at about 7 years. This one is going strong still.
The good:
The Kawasaki motor is flawless. I can't praise it enough. As long as you run non-ethanol gas and Stabil for ethenol if using ethanol gas, you should be okay. If you gum up the carburetor, you can replace the whole thing pretty cheaply if you are handy.
It holds enough gas in the tank that I can usually mow my place twice before refilling it. It turns on a dime, and with regular maintenance, continues to turn very easy. It has a much more solid steering gear than the box store models, and mows like a champ if you keep the deck adjusted properly (also easy if your handy).
It also cranks in any weather Mississippi has to offer, has a superior warranty, and the tires have held up great. I love the deck wash out connection. It is a joy to use, and after years of box store products, just feels absolutely superior, almost like a real little tractor.
The transmission works smoothly and climbs and descends hills great (for a while).
The bad:
Taking it to a dealer for repair is outrageously expensive. The battery got a dead cell, and while jumping it off I fried the little brain box under the dash at the top. It was around $180 (the little box is about $80 just for the part). I am handy enough that I can handle that on my own next time. When it fries, it won't run again without it.
It has a lighter duty hydrostatic transmission, the same one in the cheaper L and D series from your box stores. If your yard is flat, it will last forever. If you have hills and bluffs, it will not, and it's a costly repair (that warranty can be a blessing).
If my trans-axle dies again, I am handy enough that there is an upgrade out there for about $400 more than the OEM that has twice the strength, goes a couple miles per hour faster, and is tough enough for heavy ground engagement!!! If John Deere would have spent the extra $400 and used that heavy hydrostatic trans-axle from the factory, I would have praised them to the moon.
The seat's vinyl and doesn't hold up either, and it's about a $150 replacement cost for another seat. Don't hit something and break your hood to pieces, That's $1000...
All in all a superior product but it isn't perfect, and repairs out of warranty.....well....I hope you are handy.