Something fishy is going on with this post. Its like she didn't even listen to what people were saying... I dunno I agree wrong choice in saw purchase.
No one had anything specific they could note that made either one a poor choice. She just may have went the with most powerful one she could afford.
To anyone reading, It surprises me that homeowners are advised to buy 72 cc or larger saws for 3-6 cords a year. How long does it take to just fell and buck this amount of wood ? Or, just to buck it to length if they have logs available ? Chances are better than even that they don't go out in a single day and bring this much wood in to process
Pretty easy to sit back and poo-poo a homeowner or a homeowner class of saw when it isn't your money buying it. For 5 cords a year it should last them long enough to heat their home for several years and become their backup saw if they decide they need to do their cutting in less time or add a second operator. There is still the brushing, loading, hauling, unloading, splitting, stacking and enjoying of the wood. It is going to be used by a one man operation. A faster saw isn't going to make any of the rest of it go quicker. As long as that one man exercizes proper feeding and care for that saw there is no reason for it to fail sooner than its larger counterparts in the same hands.
Hoping4heat, between the 2 saws you mentioned I don't think you went wrong with your purchase. The saw you purchased has more advertised power in approx the same size package. It was less initial cost and depending on your husband physical condition he should be able to operate it easily for the task at hand, which is making firewood from small to medium sized trees or logs
To get the most out of your saw always keep the chain sharpened for maximum production/cutting speed. Use quality
Bar Oil to lubricate the bar and chain, never put used motor oil in the reseviour or in the gas/oil mix. Always remember to mix the correct amount, of the right oil, in your gas can. Never put straight gas in your saw and expect it to run long enough to finish a job. Use the best gas you can buy, and remember to run the last of the gas out of the tank before storing it for more than a week or two. Never let the saw sit longer than this with gas in it to avoid having to take it to the shop to get cleared out and going again.
When you or your husband are ready for that saw to cut faster look into a getting a couple of better loops of chain. The chain that comes on new saws, that size, are intened for the inexperienced, uninitiated and untrained ocassional user. There are risks invloved with a more aggresive and faster cutting chain. Keep your safety in mind and the safety of others working in your area. Even a safety chain will go through human flesh quickly.
Dont forget to add some protective equipment to your/his toolset. A set of saw chaps are much less expensive than a trip to the ER or time lost from a horrific accident. Don't wait till it is too late to think about his safety. It only takes an instant to change your life forever.
A lot of that should go without saying but not knowing your husbands level of experience with a chain saw I offered this to help. Enjoy your new purchase, treat it well and it should serve the master accordingly.