I own a 973c, i do land clearing and excavation. If you want to buy a big loader, find a good loader and buy it. I was going through the stages of purchasing a machine just like you and a bunch of people on here told me to give it up, buy something smaller etc.
Put in your due diligence, get oil samples, check for leaks, blow by, hydraulic strength, spin the tracks around. inspect the frame for any cracks. And take the plunge.
My machine is a higher hour unit, but it was a fleet vehicle for a company with multiple machines. I had service records, and the knowledge to operate it.
I drove 7 hours to go test it, paid them to get oil samples done, bought the machine. And haven't looked back, the diversity of a track loader is far superior to any other piece of equipment. Land clearing, excavating, grading, demolition, loading trucks, there is nothing that can compete with a track loader. The only thing i wish i could do was dig a vertical hole, without making ruts, and being able to dig in water logged areas. That is where an excavator has the advantage.
I have a thread in here as well with my experience, since i have owned it i have had a couple break downs, the drive motor output shaft seal was toast, and pressurized the final drive, and the pump pressures were WAY off, that was $10,000 bill, i blew the main hydraulic line in the middle of winter, $160 hose repair, and $200 of oil, carrier roller bearing failed $350, and now one of the tilt cylinders needs a repack. When big things go wrong, it goes wrong in spectacular fashion, but just do preventive maintenance, and DON'T procrastinate. It'll only cost you more in the end.
I have used the machine for quite a few hours on the farm, it has pretty well paid for itself, including the repairs just for the work it has done for myself, let alone the work that ive done for others.
Here's a picture of a job i did with my loader that not ONE other piece of equipment could've completed nearly as efficiently.