Love the Ryobi. Replaced a Scotts (with Briggs motor) that I had 20 years, bought from HD then as well. I have no problem with the plastic... doesn’t corrode, doesn’t dent, light, plenty durable.

Battery storage and and material advancement are doing to small engines like this far, far faster than the average automobile. I still have my gas backpack blower and edge trimmer and 20” chainsaw (all Echo), because they are in great shape and don’t need replacement. When they do, it’ll likely be electric.

The Toro Super Recycler ($650 at dealer) is the best and only mower on the market for home owners, in my opinion. My last one was over 30 years old before retired. My current one is 15 years old, and still has another 15 years of use in it. And this is Florida, mowing every week, 52 times a year.

$650 for a 20 year mower? Or $300 for a big box mower that you have to replace every 5 years. The expensive mower, that cost more up front, saves you money in the long run. A battery powered (laugh) mower would cost 4 or 5 times what a Toro Super Recycler would cost over a 20 year time frame.

You brought up the issue in your OP: disposable. Most of the stuff you’d get at the big box stores are meant to last a few years then replace.

As for the Honda cut quality, the overall quality of the Honda products at the big box stores is pathetic. The engines are weak and the cut suffers as a result.

I bought a Toro at Home Depot about 15 years ago and it is still going.