Check out Sears Craftsman higher-end models - I believe they are still supplied by Husqvarna (Sears is now having their low-end models supplied by MTD). You may find the same model available (with just a different brand name) and maybe at a cheaper price.

That being said, I'm not familiar with that model. What will the tractor be used for? If you are doing any towing or significant hill-climbing, you may want to opt for a tractor with a heavy-duty transmission (the tranny seems to be the link in most lawn tractors). Most LTs under $2500 have a standard hydrostatic transmission (the TuffTorq K46 is pretty ubiquitous among them). If you need a heavier tranny, look for a tractor with a K66 or equivalent tranny (see TuffTorq's website for details). On the Sears tractors, they may give the transmission model on the label under the seat.