When I'm mowing grass that is thick, it's extremely muggy and the heat index is 105, I do not want to screw around with a weak mower. When we hit our wet season and the grass is taking off, it can be work for a good gas mower. In fact, neighbors will make fun of me for cutting my yard maybe TOO often. I'd rather cut it sooner and not deal with thick grass, the mower bogging down and then raking up heavy clumps. In Florida, you sometimes HAVE to mow when the grass is wet or even mow in rain. Power in the mower is important.