We could go on about this again, but I would rather have the pivot shaft take the abuse than the live axle on the final drives. I have not so fond memories of finals lasting 6,000 to 8,000 hrs, then needing overhauled on the D-8K and D-9H when they worked hard in a rock pile. Not to mention the cost or amount of downtime.
The current crop of D-9 hight track models consistently give me 14,000 to 16,000 hrs on powertrain components.
In my book that wins the argument hands down.