Snowblower Recommendations

About 500 dollars, and light enough for a smallish woman to handle. To be used in northern Baltimore county, which isn't, you know, a lot of snow, but, still, the driveway is long

Benny Profane wrote

 a smallish woman...driveway is long.....

....equals electric start and self-propelled. $500 probably isn't gonna cut it unless she goes used. Plus a $500 one will likely cut a narrower swath which could truly suck when doing a longer driveway. Just some thoughts.

I don't think $500 is going to cut it.  Best time to get a deal is in the spring.  You definately want an electric start.

I used to be a supplier for the electric starter motor for MTD.  I can tell you that they test the crap out of thier products and really make a great quality product.  I have had an MTD for 16 years now and would buy another one if this one ever dies.

Honda (or whatever) single-stage. Light and sort of self propelled (they pull themselves along). These blowers take a bit of getting used to but they work really well and are easy to handle. And a new one is a lot closer to your budget than a dual-stage:
http://powerequipment.honda.com/snowblowers/single-stage-snowthrowers

This one is easy :)  Get the Honda single stage.  They are awesome and cheap.  I sold my two stage and got the Honda 720C.  Best decision ever.  You don't need electric start on the Honda.  it starts easily a child could do it.  

Claude