Side discharging is fine for certain areas. I own a couple of choppers and a scag. When all I had was the scag i had to throw it out the side, but now I have the option of mulching or opening the chute and letting it fly. You can do fine with side discharge as long as you run back over your clippings in a crossing pattern or start in the middle if possible and work it to the outside perimeter. One concern you must have when side discharging is THE SAFETY FACTOR! Be careful where you do this at, I don't know of anybody that has ever been in a lawsuit over a rock hitting somebody in the head but if it can happen it will happen sooner or later IF you aren't careful. There are many ++++++++ & --------------'s to either one, mulching is safe but a little slower, discharging can be faster but a lot more dangerous.<p>Homer<p>P.S. Buy a chopper if you don't already have one and you have the best of both worlds!