The nice thing about a mini is that it can swing 360 degrees. It can get into tight places that a backhoe/tractor can't. It is quick and easy to back fill with the blade.
When building our commercial kitchen, I set the a/c unit through the hole and put it on some saw horses. I then installed the cage and pushed the unit in. I set the double oven stove through the door where I could finish moving it with a hand cart. I also set the triple sink through the door. You couldn't get anything else near the door to move it in.
They are handy for many things other than digging.