More or less legit, but they can be overcome. The battery issue is actually more of a starter issue. The combination of the OEM starter and your typical garden tractor battery tends not to be a winning one as the years go by. There is a newer style starter that can be substituted that will allow much better cranking, especially during cold weather starts. Edit: It looks like maybe a larger battery can fit up in front? Seems bigger than a normal GT battery.
Plastics, well it's plastic.
The overheating issue typically has to do with the operator not keeping up with cleaning the debris screen just ahead of the radiator. If I recall, the Kubota in that model is turned 180 degrees, putting the radiator back towards the dash. This is where clippings and other material can collect and cover up the radiator. Not a great idea, but form overcame function and they wanted that hood to slope down. Edit: Maybe they did it for the battery.
I wouldn't let any of these niggles put me off a diesel.
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