Price is high unless it is in very good shape. If it is 'As pulled' I bet the ball joints, u-joints, and wheel bearings all need to be replaced, and the hubs might be worn or of an inferior design. Most of the D44 aftermarket hubs aren't much good, IMHO the only thing worth running at this point is the Yukon Hardcore ones, unless somebody else has cloned them. No brake calipers is a bummer, and no steering isn't helping even if you were unlikely to reuse it.
I would try to pay less. It probably has 3.07 gears also. Realistically you're going to dump $1000 into that axle, maybe more, to make it into something decent.
Personally I do not recommend or endorse staying at the factory-ish axle width for tires any larger than 35". What are your plans?
What he said. Unless you're going to go up to 35's or bigger and abuse the skinny pedal, a D30 can survive for a long time, especially if trussed and are running upgraded shafts.