I shred my leaves with my regular mower. A few passes and they are all just leaf shreds in the lawn (some mowers are better than others). And I leave them there. The grass likes it, the trees like it. Free nitrogen by Spring.
That why deciduous trees drop their leaves. They get the nutrients back through the roots in Spring and don't have to feed them all Winter.
THe same with lawn clippings BTW. The grass uses the decaying tops for food. And that isn't what causes thatch.
