I think that is part of the marketing. They don't want to equip the "cheap" tractors too well as they would take too much sales away from higher margin models yet they need a cheap model to compet in the market place. Thet is why if you can use them in their basic form and get the job done they are a good value.

You might also be surprised how much inner company "politics" there is within big companies like Deere. Other factories (Germany, France, USA, etc) would not take kindly to India or Mexico suddenly making up 80% of the international sales. There is a lot more to international companies politics than just some board of directors calling the shots in one countriy - if the company is to survive at least. That is why you might see certain engines or other components in tractors that might not make the very most sense - inner company (factory) politics.

John