I am with you. I would be interested to see one converted. Heck, if someone did it and did a decent job I may even be convinced to pay them to convert mine. The biggest drawback I have found so far with this one is the mobility issue.I think someone with the fab skills is absolutely justified to buy a 3k or less towable and convert it to a BRAND NEW tractor backhoe with a free hydraulic power pack (lol), vs waiting around for a worn out one that already fits but needs other metalwork anyway to not be a piece of crap, or paying 6k for new. It doesn't sound crazy at all to me!
But then, using it the way it is isn't crazy either. I'm just being an enabler to fellow 'i have to modify everything i touch' types..