Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

I would like to buy my husband a snow thrower before the snow season starts. I have a pretty steep asphalt driveway, and a parking area that would fit about 8-10 cars. The parking area is pea stone. We live on Cape Cod in Massachusetts, so winters are not very predictable, some years we get hammered with snow, and other years we get nothing.  My husband is meticulous with his toys and can fix or build just about anything so service is not an issue.  What type of machine should I get him? Are steep driveways an issue with these things? Will the pea stone shoot out like bullets into my yard or is there a height adjustment on the machines? Are they self propelled or will he be pushing 200lbs up the driveway? Thanks for your help...Goodwife