I miss the WJ :wall:
Your right. If I had a rig and could only do 1 mod....it would be lockers.
I would take a stock MJ with stock suspension, 31's, cut to hell fenders, and lockers over a high quality lift, 33's or 35's, and open diffs anyday of the week. (and 31's and lunchbox lockers would cost less than the high end(long arm, no blocks in rear) and 33 to 35's)
I have just started the fist phase of the same build. I bought a 2wd MJ, (cheap!) have added 2" front pucks, an XJ front end, and 31" muds. I am now saving money for big boy parts. Meanwhile I will have great fun wheeling it as is till it grows up!