ATR deck drive.........Mule pullys or shaft & gearbox??

[ddg]

Still ZTR shopping, Had about decided on something with a shaft & gearbox driven deck, (Scag Turf Tiger) but have been hearing some negative stuff about it here. The anti-drive shaft people say go with an all belt drive, like Exmark Lazer. I've heard mechanical effeciency suffers with an all belt drive, and I've heard shaft drive sap horsepower too. Who do you believe? Is there a mechanical advantage with shafts over belts? I've used a super A farmall with an all belt drive Woods L-59 belly mower for 20 years with no problem, so I know a little about belt drives.