I don't think a MF35 will handle cat 2 equipment... I know *some* MF165's have cat 2 hitches, they're good tractors though they have safety issues here and there.. Look at a MF 245, I heard they have better traction than the 165's.
Some of the safety issues I found with the MF165's is they're short and have a light front end, and the PTO lever can accidentally engage quite easily, or not completely (leaves a drag on the PTO). They have band brakes which aren't that great either.
I think if you're looking for a decent middle-aged tractor, an IH 574 or any of it's siblings you'd do very well.. We have the 684, which pulls (and lifts) a massive 2 bottom rollover plow, handles a 2 shank subsoiler down to 20", a 10ft disc on hilly ground. Hydraulic brakes work nicely, full power steering is sensitive and precise, Packs lots of weight which you need for traction, best hydraulics of it's time, 3 pt hitch has more intuitive controls than the masseys (pulling up lifts the implement) and draft control. The PTO control is smooth and can be inched really nicely, it also has a brake and a degree of "slop" so you can turn it to mesh up the splines when connecting. My only complaint about ours is a wide 2nd to 3rd gear spacing. Without a loader, you should be able to find one in decent shape for about 4-5000, add $2000 for a loader
I don't see why you people use draft control when plowing... I want to maintain a uniform plowing depth and that doesn't happen with the draft control. I use it subsoiling so if I hit a rock it pulls it up, same with the scraper blade.
The MF35's are good, long lasting tractors but lack some really nice features... I am not sure if they had live PTO, or perhaps a double clutch... I think the 165's came in both flavors. I don't think all of them had power steering either.