I would personally prefer a non Chonda model.

We have an Ariens 624 that has worked well for 4 winters. It has one of the last Tecumseh engines made. My only problem with it is that it won't start with the fuel valve closed. I think that Ariens is in business for the long haul, and therefore they will support their products. We paid around 800 dollars for our snowblower, new, so the price you quote for a similar machine implies that snowblowers have become less expensive.