I think it's really a $$ issue. Compare the cost of the purchase, ost of gears/locker, cost of shortening, cost of axles/ujoints/birfields, cost of brakes, etc. I do think the D44 housing is stronger than the toyota.

I don't like the hybrids, personally. I think they are too much $$ for what you get. I had a HP D44 with warn shafts and cut down to the perfect width in my shop for a long time. I ended up selling it rather than using it. But, had I had to do it over again, (and if I actually wheeled more than 1x annually) I'd run the D44.

Brian K. Gallus
I have nothing important to say.