There are some places where the tractor is superior to a skid steer. Gravel work is one and there are others as well. I started out grading with skip loaders (industrial tractors), well before skids hit the scene. Having a bucket on one end and a box blade on the rear makes perfect sense for a host of tasks. My record (so far) is fifteen 23-25 ton loads of road base mixed, spread and graded in an eight hour day. Not bad for a 35hp tractor using less than 13 gallons of fuel per day.
Since all of the skids were hand and foot controls back then, I simply didn't like them. Who walks on their hands and picks things up with their feet anyway? And dust a few feet in front of your face and bouncing around all day always seemed like torture to me. It still does.
For grading and heavy lifting, a compact track loader is a much stronger machine than a traditional skid steer. That's why I purchased my TR320. It has pilot controls and a nice cab, which make it a joy to run.
To answer your questions, the NH is a two-pedal hydro and no, I don't run a hydraulic top link or tilt either. I'm close to 3000 hrs on it right now, so when I get another tractor it will get both and a cab too. Not sure what model I'll get though since no one makes what I really want. The Kubota
M59 is probably the closest, even though I hate the treadle deal. I'd like to step up to a Deere 210LE, but at 14k I'd have to change trailers and go to a medium duty truck to haul it.
