About half of my leaves (multiple lawns) get mulched and returned as I mow.... three lawns, three methods...
Mowers... Zero turns, a JD pulling a "finish mower", a Honda push mower, a Cyclone Rake (for larger acrerage), Stihl backpacks that don't suck ... they blow
It's leaf season here .... about half-way thru... some trees are barren, some just getting started... BUT...
I don't even own a snow shovel .... so I win ... most years