I have run the Cat, Bobcat, and JCB Tracks and if the Choice is there the Cat will win hands down.  The pilot controls and the suspended undercarriage is unbeatable.  The maintiance cost might be higher but If you run it 10 hours a day it is worth it I think.

I seem to think the 277 is just under 10k without bucket.  Anything over 10k and you need 4 chains to tie down, and we get by with 2 on the 277's. 

We ended up with an older 985 NH we had and 3 Cat 277's.  Nobody will take the NH out anymore, but it will still work and is a nice machine. 

Jmo, but I take a cat skid anyday.  Never ran a little payloader either I guess,  We have a Kamotsu 250 but that thing is to big for finishing grade.  Use that for chicken litter loading.

We will be getting one more 277B, yeah.