primary reason lawsuit
busted windows are easy to repair, get caught launching a pebble at a 5 year old girl and killing her, and you'll be paying for the rest of your life.
while it is rare, 'flying debris' from mower CAN kill, usually it's 'just' painful owies, but you do NOT want to responsible even for those ! Momma can be a real 'bear' and well, YOU were at fault.
If you think you need to raise the chute, you're going the wrong way ! I've cut left side to raised beds and fences for 3 decades, never 'needed' to raise the chute. I do have a rope on it though, to get in onto the 4by8 trailer. Seems a 42" deck is 46" wide PLUS 8" more for chute. Raise the chute though and it drives up fine.