Here in Mexico, the extended cab Rangers come with D44s. If they are also 58", they will be a great source of D44s for YJs and TJs once they start showing up in the junk yards.
This is probably because a certain percentage of the vehicle must be made in country. The easiest way to do this is to use the Dana since they have plants in Mexico as well as a few other S. American countries. This is why the YJ came with a D44, and why the XJ had a D44. It's also why the TJ had a D44 and why the Rubicon has the D44 front. All of those axles are made south of the border and slowly migrated back north.