If you insist on going reel mower, try to get the fiskars. The nice one, they have a few models. Look on craigslist using keyword "fiskars", you might find one. I have a 1/2 acre lot here in NJ, all grass with normal lawn weeds. The reel mower can not cut any stems from dandelion or plantain, they get too tall too fast, and just lay over when the mower passes and pop up after. Also, thick patches of grass can jam the reel or making the bedknife skip out of the way (mine is spring loaded). The mower I have is a husqvarna novocut that I get for cheap on craigslist, nothing special to it, not recommended over any other unless CHEAP. McClane reel mowers look like the heavy duty version of the design Fiskars ripped off. With this mower, assuming the weeds are not up and the grass is the right length, I can mow the yard in about 3 hours. With a push gas mower it takes 1 hour. I also had a riding mower when I moved here (single blade, small john deere) and found the gas push mower was the same speed if I hustled.
If I were investing right now in a mower, for this situation, I would get the Ego brand mower with a nice size battery pack. They look awesome, but no I do not have one. I am going to keep using the combo of reel mower and gas push mower till I move, then they go to Craig.
For string trimmer I own and love the Core Outdoor Power trimmer. Sadly, they were purchased by a bigger company and appear to be mothballed. If you are OK with that they are still in stock some places, and who knows the brand may be resurrected yet. The Ego brand trimmer looks decent. I could not find a human powered equivalent for a string trimmer. I think the answer is string trimmer, livestock, or landscaping for the edges. Shears (scissors) are too slow, even the big ones meant for hedges.