yes I know this is an old thread. Here are my 2 cents on the Dewalt walk behind mowers.
I purchased a new 2022 (in May of 2022) Dewalt Dw33 walk behind the 33 inch cut and I did add a set of jungle wheels to it. It was an extra slash back up mower last year. We put 75 hours on. It was used to side discharge and mulch leaves. First the mower has done great. Only issue I had was do to jungle wheels being on it. Im 200# and on any unlevel ground I would loose traction on 1 tire. Now my helper being 150# can ride it almost any where to help me. This mower was bought to my small ztr going down. And since I like what I saw from using it I own walk behinds now.
At this time I am considering by the Dewalt HP48 48 inch cut walk behind and adding jungle wheels to it as my main mower. My Dewalt 33 will be on my second truck this year as primary mower and I have no doubt that the mower will make it this year full time. The route it will be on will be a single guy and 35-40 yards. 75% in garden home communities and other yards that are 1/4 acre. You just have to keep oil changed and air filter clean and keep sharp blades and don't forget to grease all points.
So yes Dewalt/MTD are players in my book. My local dealer sells Exmark, Billy Goat, and Cub Cadet commercial grade mowers the largest in my area and has no trouble fixing it if something happened to it. He can gets parts in within 2 days from MTD.