Dave,
How many acres of hay are you planning on putting up?
If it was me, (and it WAS me a couple years ago) I'd opt for a diesel. I started out with gas tractors - which were great - until I moved up to a diesel. They are super simple. No need to fiddle with the carb - there is no float to stick; no sparkplugs and/or wires to change, no coil to go bad...
I put up ~350 acres of hay per year. Both small squares (40-70 lbs depending on customer) and large round bales. If you have a chance to come up to mid-michigan I'd be happy to show you my toys - even let you drive them if you so chose, just to get an idea of what you are getting into. Haying is a lot of work - especially with a day job, but I love doing it.
Because I needed a way to handle the large rounds (at least, that was the excuse I gave my wife
) I bought a 1995 72 h.p. 4wd Case with a loader in January to go with my 4020 J.D. I've had smaller/less h.p. tractors and realized at the time - you can never have "too much" horsepower.
I don't have enough for everything I do, but if I want to stay married it will have to do.
Kens-farm
Why would you run a baler with a kicker if you don't have a wagon on behind? Do you have someone running around behind you practicing to return punts?