When I was middle-schooled age ( or maybe high school?), my grandmother decided that we needed a rototiller for our truckpatch. So, my dad went down to the JD dealer and bought a front tine tiller.  Brought it home and started to use it.  Within 1 day, he decided he had enough, and it was going back.  His back was not going to put up with that.  Sent the front tine tiller back, and bought a 8-hp rear tine Troy Bilt.  Still have that tiller.  Still runs.   That would be a 1970's model.

I have since bought, for myself, a 5-hp pony Troy-Bilt; it was used, and so it is an older model, although not as old as my parents.  I would concur with the other posts.  When Troy-Bilt was a stand-alone company, they built solid tillers.  Since they have been bought out, not sure they are quite the same durability.

I would not buy a front tine tiller.  Not sure I can say whether a rear tine forward-rotating, or a counter rotating is better.  But either one is better than a front tine.