I guess it depends on how risky you are and where you want to put your money?
A vehicle with a 3" lift and 32s can go places where a stocker with armor cant. I have built my rig to date with this concept and I still dont have sliders/diff plates

Though, hopefully by the end of the summer I will make them. But rear bumper is first.....I rarely hit my diff (all it takes is once sometimes) but I always get caught on the back......I guess im still taking the 'bang for buck' route....but hey, it works!
Under this thinking I went: 3" (2.8") OME lift, tires, cut bumper (see....no need for RTE now

), then another custom lift OME-Bilstein 7100s/RTE. Btw, cones are for chumps, spring retainers are where its at

--control over articulation.