Hi Mowerfreak,
That wouldn't surprise me at all, just in my own field of expertise, it was amazing what Rover did to Scott Bonnar by discarding many things to change to their own way of thinking and also the marketing model that they work to.
This always happens with corporate takeovers.
I'm just wondering how blowers and brush cutters work with 4 cycle engines as they require a sump, oil pump etc. and these tools are used at all different angles where the two stroke was so adaptable, but from the general mowing point of view I can't see a 4 stroke not being able to do most things that a two stroke does.
Cheers,
BB.