i usually recomend go 8.8 or go 1 ton. not much inbetween worth swapping the 30 out in the front for anything else. if it were a leaf sprung yj, maybe if the deal was right for more gear or more track, but doing two serous axle swaps on a streetable jeep is a big jump.
what is your tire size you want again?33 or 35?
get a set of cromo rear shafts and be good ? cut back on labor and keep it pretty "stock"?