If I went by the home improvement stores reccomendation for the size of my lawn, I would need a riding mower.  But this is the mower I use, and it is good exercise.  I have a sharpening kit, since it requires sharpening at least several times a year.  For the average person, however, sharpening shouldn't be needed.  I wind up literally wearing it out over the period of 3-4 years, and I replace it.  I can cut my lawn in about the same amount of time as someone using a power mower, but I don't make the noise or the pollution.  There is one major drawback.  You better hope you do not get a string of rainy days when you cannot mow, because if the grass gets too high, you will struggle.  On the other hand, you can cut wet grass with this mower.  I have had problems with the handle breaking, but it has either been covered under warranty or a minor cost replacement item.  The handle is the Achilles heel of this mower, and it will break where it is bolted by the lower set of bolts.  But again, my lawn is much larger then the normal lawn that is handled with a push mower, so it gets more use and stress.  And your neighbors will notice how neat your lawn looks after cutting.  And in using a push mower, you will start looking more closely at your lawn.  Those sticks that power mowers go right over are sticks that you probably will have to pick up.