Our garden has lots of corners, beds, nooks and crannies and lots of big trees in and around.
I use the mower as a ‘vac’ on the lawn, then use a ‘blower’ on suck only on the beds, hard standing, drive and corners that are tricky to rake. Don’t see the point in blowing, it just disperses everything.
Had a cheap petrol one, it was loud, hard to start, smelly and vibrated like crazy. Everything a man wants, but I hated it.
Got an electric one like this, begrudgingly very happy with it – for the size of our garden with a decent extension it’s loads better.
http://www.blackanddecker.com/en-US/products/lawn-and-garden/lawn/blower-vacs-and-sweepers/12-amp-high-performance-blowervacuummulcher/bv5600