Andy,
The Original thread that started it all "Hauling dirt out of my basement" was on a forum that disappeared a yr ago, but this thread
http://www.scale4x4rc.org/forums/showthread.php?t=25724 captures the last three yrs of the goings on down there.
My Vario John Deere 850 is twice the weight, twice the reach and five times the power & speed of this Italian hoe for about the same price. Since getting this 850 model, I haven't touched the pic axe to mine out new dirt from the basement.
Thank you for your interest.