It sounds like you won't be happy with any of them. They either won't start easy enough or you'll hate the mixing or both. They start roughly the same, although I think it was Stihl or Echo that made an Easy Start trimmer. How good is that Easy Start? I have no idea.

Maybe consider saving the cash and paying a lawn service to do the work. The other threads likely recommended Stihl, Shindaiwa, Red Max and some others.

I have Arthritis really bad and went with a Stihl with easy start.Excellent starter.Echo also has the easy start.Also changed from a bump head to the one where you just slide in a piece of the line.I like it.

I'll offer my opinion here...

The Honda unit is heavier than the Echo, so that is main advantage for the Echo if you'll be using it very long at a time.

I have a Honda FG100 mini-tiller with the first generation GX31 Honda mini-4 cycle. The little tiller engine is my favorite engine on any of the power equipment that I own. It is just a joy to run. It is also significantly quieter than any of the 2-cycle engines that I own.

I also have two Echo powered blowers that use the 21.2cc 2-cycle. This is the same basic engine that powers the SRM210 trimmer. Mine are not the "i" version, so I don't have any experience with that.

The Echo's start reasonably well, but not as easily as the Honda. After priming, the Echos take 2-3 pulls usually for me, the Honda normally a single pull. I haven't ever held a Honda trimmer, but if weight were the same, I would pick the Honda hands-down. Based on the way the engines run, I would again pick the Honda hands-down.

I like the Echo equipment I have, but based on how sweet the little 4-cycle Honda runs, I would lean toward the Honda for the engine alone. As far as the weight, I would want to handle both machines. The Echo weighs between 11 and 12 pounds. I believe the Honda is 14-15 pounds.

With the "in-hand" test, the Echo being the significantly lighter machine might win out.

I bought the Echo SRM210i last summer and I really enjoy it compared to the Craftsman I had before. The i feature is great for starting and takes little effort. Plus Echo has upped their residentual warrenty to 5 years on their stuff as long as you use their oil and use 89+ octane fuel.

Thanks for the input! Masiman, if you'd like to roll down from VA and do my yard FOR FREE, you're welcome.
Found a quality shop here in FW, if any in this area are interested, it's A&B in River Oaks. They'll sell you a Stihl, but they also won't BS you. My POS consumer CC 4090 is running like a charm, thanks to them and $20.
When it dies in the next couple of years, I'm looking at a Shindaiwa T2510, a Maruyama ?, a Stihl FS90R, or an Echo SRM260 with an i-start add-on. Fellow consumer idiots, I recommend you follow me...and if you live in Fort Worth, don't listen to me, go to A&B with what you've got, and listen to them. I have 3 acres with a 150' drive. Listen to A&B, they will help you. They could've sold me a $335 Shindaiwa T2510...instead, they helped me fix my current pos...knowing they'll get my business when the CC4090 dies...that's SMART-and they will be rewarded.
And many thanks to gorper99, fritowrdo5, and adkinsca for their QUALITY input. I can look past mixing, and a number of trimmer/edger makers have spring/recoil assist starts, and most accept the ECHO head sold at HD.

I have an older version of the Honda you are looking at. It is absolutly the easiest small engine I have ever had to start. In general a 4 cycle will start easier than a 2 cycle. The Honda's are about the best out their. The trimmer itself is of excellent quality. I have abused mine for around 6-7 seasons now and it has never had a single issue. I have yet changed the psark plug or anything to it. Just add fuel when it gets empty, change the oil from time to time and trim away. It is heavier than the 2 cycle Stihls and Echo's but I am not using it all day long like a pro lawn guy would.

Thanks for the offer cowtorn, lol.

I'm glad they got your trimmer running. My guess is you'll be cursing that thing until it dies. Maybe one day you'll get tired of cursing it and go get one of the trimmers you listed. I'm also glad you found a shop that you like. You can often read here how important people think that is when purchasing yard equipment. Good luck with the repaired trimmer.