I use gator mulching blades and side discharge..i can not stand to use a mulching plate, it seems grass is still growing to fast and is to tall to use a mulching plate, the gator mulching blades however are great when you side discharge...we kinda do the same I just run over the leaves a extra time. i dont get to crazy about leaves until they are all gone because it never fails that the neighbor will have a bunch and as soon as you load the wind blows and well.....you see...please it helps some with cash flow in late november doing clean ups.