I'm an all wood heat in WI wood cutter. And help others cut a bit, 7-10 cord a year. Do some 30" trees a rare bigger one. Did a 361 044 comparo When I snagged the 044 at a garage sale and was VERY done wrastling 066's
A 40" plus grey elm survivor the test bed, 25" bar was enough.
The 044 won handily, better, grunty, power. Same weight, sold the 361.
That was 5 years ago, At 67 I don't work as hard/long as I used too.
After an initial going over, the 044 has cut strong with little work, and there's been a lot of EAB trees cut the last three years.
Two cents; don't buy a saw for those ONE or TWO big trees, buy for the 80% of your cutting sized trees.
The smaller saw can be pushed to get a couple trees down. But a big saw will be too much most of the time.
I have gradually gone with longer bars, left the 28" on the 044 after a huge willow project. Billy Ray sez less bending. ;^) But would be just as happy if I swap back to the 25".
With that 28" on the 044 I'm much more likely to switch to the 028 with a 20" for limbing and bucking the upper trunk.
These old saws are easy, 6 months in the shed, fire up and back to work every time.
That 028 WB sounds "a little loose" but keeps going and going.
I found and installed a chain brake on it, was nervous without one.
Read about the 400 and 500 Guess if the 044 dies before I quit sawing I'd be more likely to go with a 400.
But still watch for "dad died" older saws on CL ;^)