Variety of reasons: Start with it being self propelled - Not enough tractor to pull a wider discbine. 14' head on 2550 means less rounds tedding if needed and less rounds raking if not tedded out.
- Went from 4 rounds opening up fields with 499 to having to do 6 rounds with 2412 discbine and now back to 4 rounds with the 2550 unless I plan on tedding then either 2 or 3 rounds
- Self propelled doesn't drive on swaths like the tractor did. That has been a huge benefit.
- Had my daughter working for me at the time and I liked the idea of her watching a 14' head in front of her at 6mph as opposed to her watching a pull type behind her and 12' plus to the side at 9mph. She started running it when she was 15.
- Much smother ride
- Actually didn't lose acres per hour.
Discbine vs sickle haybine: - Light crop cuts better with sickle. Discbine definitely would miss more in light or lodged crop
- More dry matter loss with discbine especially in light crop and slower speeds
- Crop orientation from discbine tend to leave crop stems parallel to direction of travel. I used to have to be much more aggressive with the wheel rake and still left a lot. That also means less dirt in windrow. For sure can see the difference in rake wheel wear and replacement intervals.
I now actually enjoy mowing again. | 
Hay rakes
