I've been using 2 Grillo walk behinds and 2 Kubota 4-wheel drive tractors for many years now. The walk behind tractors go where the 4 wheel tractors can not. Either it is to steep or the space os to confimed. If one is "homesteading" 5 acres or less the walking tractors are the way to go! All good equipment is expensive.
That's a decent point, around here you can get an old gas powered Alis for 500 bucks, typically only thing wrong with them is they've laid up and people now don't know anything about polishing points or rebuilding a carb much less putting Sta bill in your ethanol gas People also seen to think a used BCS it's still worth 3-4k around here as well or any decent tiller that isn't broken for that matter. I think there's a 42 hp MF 2135 turf special 30 miles from here with a 6ft brush hog for that.