I'm in the same camp as Dave. My 2182-2 came with a GT54 deck that was obviously operated in the "ground following radar" mode. The hanging frame had been broken and beat to death and rewelded in some very unflattering ways.
Even without Dave's chain solution, I think it is less stress on the tractor to at least partially hang these decks. After getting a new hanging frame, I have set my GT54 up to have each gauge wheel be within about a 1/2" of touching on all four corners. That means that in actual use, usually one or two wheels is always touching on my version of a lumpy-bumpy yard. The few times I have let it ride on the ground, you can really feel the stress as it corners if the ground is uneven or if it gets railroaded by some surface roots near the woods line.
From Cub's design point of view, the absolute best, most even cut would be allowing the deck to run on the ground. With a very smooth yard, this is probably fine, but with the type of yards many of us have in a rural environment I think it is best to at least partially hang the deck.
The worn pins on Dave's lift arm are an easy fix compared to the wreckage I got for a hanging frame!
Each owner will have to decide what is best for their situation. I am amazed at what a good job the GT54 deck does too, even not fully riding on the ground. Amazing cut, always even, never windrows, and mulches leaves like a boss with the plug in!
