Ive seen 3 D35's pop the axle end off at the C-clip groove. (One was mine...)
I've seen several ford trucks with 8.8 rears along side the road with the axle in the ditch...
AS far a 9" vs 8,8 vs 44. If you look up the specs they are within 1/8 of an inch of each other, the pinions are all within 3/10 of an inch.
Some 9"gear sets are 8.8 Some 9" have "small pinion" which is way smaller than a 44 or a 8.8.
None of them really beat the other in any all around comparison, each has a strength.
9" do suck more power than the 44 or the 8.8 due to the pinion relationship to the ring gear.
More and more drag racers are running Dana full floaters casue the 9 can suck up 10 HP..
Dave