I have used a JD 332 for 15 years which has the speed control lever on the dash. I also bought a foot control tractor 5 years ago and from day one I felt more comfortable with the foot control. I've never had a situation where I stomped on the gas be mistake to stop. It's much easier to creep up to a fence or the back wall of the shed with the foot control. If I could convert my 332 to foot control I would. It's not marketing hype. The consumers have spoken.

Several Craftsman tractors have fender mounted hydro controls. I bought a tractor 2 years ago, and at that time, Sears didn't offer a foot controlled hydro unit (all were fender mounted). The year previous they had a one-year run of a Honda V-twin engine with foot controlled hydro that I would have considered if it were offered when I bought my tractor. This years Craftsman models have a split of some models with foot control, some with hand control.

I guess to each his own, but in my case I ruled out any hydro tractor that wasn't foot controlled.

I've never used a foot hydro but I do like the fender hydro on my old White. If it weren't a hydro I'd probably have given up on it years ago.
Honestly though I wouldn't spend extra to get hydro, its a nice feature but not one that I'm so excited about I'd actually spend extra.

This is something (foot hydro) you should really try before ruling it out. I've run a lever hydro JD 165 for more than 15 years adn vowed never to return to a clutch/gear transmission for mowing around out 1 acre typical residential lot with house, garagae building, walks, driveway, gardens, a few trees - all flat. within the hydro cho8ces, the foot mounted systems came in several flavors, and some of them I don't find comfortable at all due to placement of pedals and the way they move. However, the ones set up like my JD LT160, with two pedals side by side, I find very comfortable and very easy to get used to. In my case, I like the foot style better, even though I love my old hand lever style also. I've only had it in use for a couple of weeks, but it is already completely natural. with teh hand lever, I did a lot of one handed steering with one hand on lever. Now I have a free hand to hold bushes or tree branches out of the way, hold a beer, etc. If i had long straight stretches to cut, teh hand lever might be better because it can just be left in position oike cruise control, but with ready adjustment at either lever or brake pedal. Try them both where you will use it.

I have a fender shift hydro, I wish I would have chosen the pedal type. When I mow, I have some low overhanging trees and sometimes have to grab the branch to keep it from ripping across my neck. One hand on the wheel and one hand on the tree branch, I don't have another arm to work the fender throttle.

I have the pedal hydro here on the L110 in KY , but run the fender shift hydro GT5000 in ND.
I think the pedal setup is much easier to use, and I do lots of things I wouldnt attempt with the fender shift, ie going right up to trees and stopping like that.
I think you may be right if your mowing is mostly big open spaces, however.

My 06 simplicity broadmore has fender and foot control. I like the foot best sofar.