[roger]

its the bit like the 30-06vs270vs280vs7-08 argument but, its in this order for me.
bobcat
<small space>
then caterpiller,
<then after a long empty space>
JD, case, takegi, kubota, jcb, etc
although these would fine in an acreage or home use.

ive always had bobcat machines, a 751, s250 and an now an s160.
so therefore being totally bias with zero real time experience on any other types, Not to mention huge support from bobcat of red deer. it has been great little machine with zero downtime and its big enough and small enough to what i need done. I should have bought a T190 or a T180 in the very least. Id sell the s160 (600hrs) tomorrow and buy an T180/190.
cats,
In the few hours i been on a cat, I couldnt get on to the (pilot?) controls using the one hand operation, what an experience that was. that isnt the machine fault. I like the cats theory on low rpm to develop maximum hydraulic pressure and rpm only equals ground speed. That has to have fuel savings and longevity written all over it. It was also a the quietest cabin. (mostly because of the low engine rpm)
JD,
too me it looks 'unfinished' and what Im calling linkage heavy. this is connected to this link and this is tied to that with a linkage and so on...in a introduction to the machine i found it like a bull in a china shop, very robust and powerful, but its like tying your skates with hockey gloves on, no real finesse.
case,
seemed just to unbalanced to me and seemed to be behind in innovations. but that is just me. wasnt even a consideration
kubota,
is the newest entry into your price point, just sitting in it i found its big inside, but again it seems unfinished, the quality control isnt there, most welds have cold starts and hot finishes or have mig wire tails still attached. it should be of sound mechanical design being kubota motor and all. the undercarriage looked ok too. but either way it needs to get whatever bugs out of it before id consider it.