Do I need a rear-tine or front-tine tiller?

Across the gardening and homestead subreddits we read, the consensus is that rear-tine tillers are the right choice for breaking new ground, heavy clay, or rocky soil, because the powered wheels do the work and the tines bite deeper. Front-tine and cordless cultivators are better suited to already-loose soil, raised beds, and mixing amendments. Several Reddit threads specifically warn that small electric tillers struggle in first-time, untilled soil.