I've been enjoying all this talk here on these forums. It's interesting to read about the different types and classes of equipment used in the different parts of north america. Up here, smaller, lighter and faster is the name of the game. There are big machines around, but generally speaking many of the sites here need a 600 like a hole in the head. Just different applications. 20-35 tons and CAT controls is the common breadwinner of this area but once in a while I'll see a larger machine being used around here, making the owner money.
I've run new Komatsus and they were nice, never gave me any issues, the older ones were not as nice as the older Hitachis in my opinion, and the Hitachi package has treated me well, but my happiest moments have been in the seat of relatively new CAT excavators. I don't know why, but they seem to be built better than many other machines. A little more power, a little more weight in the right places, a little more finesse. Maybe I've just had good ones to run, but its interesting how we all have our own preferences and pet peeves.