I own a hydro, have owned a couple of gear machines, and sometimes use a Cub Cadet with some sort of shuttle arrangement that I find a pain to use. I'm not sure what it's called, but you choose a range with your left hand next to the seat, then choose your direction with a lever on the "dash" to the left of the steering wheel. Then you use the clutch and hand or foot throttle to drive the thing. You can shift from forwards to reverse if you clutch and move the lever, and you don't need to be fully stopped to do so. I just can't get accustomed to it. My hydro is a lot quicker for loader work.
The hydro is also nice for delicate manuevering, but I think a gear version of the same tractor would be able to pull harder without quitting.