What is the difference between toro lawn mowers sold at Home Depot and toro dealers?

Toro uses cheaper parts for the Home Depot products to keep the cost down. They have a much shorter life span and higher incidence of service repairs as a result.
There are substantial differences in the deck, engines, wheels, handle and service.

1. Deck is made of cast steel, dealer units are aluminum and guaranteed for life.

2. The deck is much less rigid and flexes, the dealer ones do not.

3. The deck is a 22" vs dealer deck at 21" and more efficient mulches, high vacuum

4. Wheels use a sleeve bushing vs dealer with ball bearings and grease fittings.

5. Engines are usually aluminum bore vs cast iron bore at dealers.

6. Handle is aluminum vs dealers use a steel handle.

7 Decks do not use kickers vs dealer machines use 4 kickers to super mulch.

8. Level of service is astronomical. Such as free blade sharpening and free services.