I have one and it's a great mower.

Toro from a Toro dealer.

Big box store mowers are not the same as mowers from a dedicated dealer.

We have owned 2 Toro mowers. I bought one used (1989 model) from a Toro dealer for $100 in 2011. My friend's son still mows with it, and it's now over 35 years old.

Our current Toro is a personal pace, bought new in 2012, has never had anything but regular maintenance.

Ive had good luck with Craftsmans. Just make sure the deck height is adjustable as required.

I know you said gas... but after being told at the lawn mower shop after taking my new mower to them 3 times in a season that ALL of them now have plastic carburetors, I decided to try my luck with a battery. I bought one of those models from ACE ... no idea who makes it (gray and green) I have abused it! I actually use it behind my house where I plant my food plot. It's self propelled and I have never bogged it down like I have gas engines. My son said Dad, have you gone green on me? I told him I was tired of buying unreliable mowers. This thing has taken a beating all over my 50 acres. Don't think I will ever buy another gas mower, if I can't get to it with my tractor, then I am dragging this thing there with my 4 wheeler and cutting grass (weeds, rocks, stumps...)

The Honda plastic deck is great. My last steel deck is almost 20 years old and still runs at my son-in-laws house. The deck had to be patched due to rust, but still runs great. I have the HRX with the 190cc motor and plastic deck; running for about four years and no complaints. I do not run over bricks, nor do I stand on it. I have about 6k sq ft of zoysia and the honda is rock solid. The rest of my yard is under oak trees and the Hustler xd chews on that.

EGO brand. I have their blower, chainsaw and multi head system. Work very well

Polymer decks have been used for several years, looks like steel and and most people don’t ck.

Snapper

Gomers post.
I got an old Troybuilt with Honda motor basically looks like it is only 2 years old. Self propelled mechanism started whining around third year out of warranty. Figured it would just quit working. That was about 20 years ago. Still mows like new.