The reasons that I was planning on going with an Optima are;
1. After using them for the last few years of service in the Army they hold up well and we have never had to replace one in our vehicles.
2. They do not need to be vented and I'm kind of scared to have a standard battery that needs venting for potentially explosive gasses right next to my generator thats between two propane tanks....
3. My family includes several diesel and heavy equipment mechanics and operators that also swear by them.
There you have it..
I will stay with whatever my dealer replaced mine with until it craps out.
Gregg