To me, dirt work means digging and/or pushing trees. Hydro is magnificent for that.

Only PTO work I currently do is with the tiller or an auger.

If I was only grading a driveway, or planting row crops, then manual or shuttle might be fine.

I think power loss is more a perception or a holdover from older units. My MX6000 has 59.5 HP net, and 51.7 PTO. That's 7.8 HP loss, 13.1%.

Closest shuttle is the M6060, with 63.5 HP net, and 56 PTO. That's 7.5 HP loss, 11.8%.

0.3 HP / 1.3% PTO difference ain't much, and I doubt that you could ever realize it at the implement. Most stuff in that size is rated for 40-60 HP anyway, and if it's spinning 540 RPM, then it will do what it's supposed to do.

I am aware of the noise/whine of the hydro pump, but it doesn't bother me.