I will have far less then 1500 into my 8.8 and it will be 4 linked, some of thats because i can weld, and some because ive come across deals and what not. I also dont see running a 60/70/14bolt in the rear with anything less then 39s any advantage. It may be stronger but you add a lot more weight, lose ground clearance and the overall build on one is way more money. I had a geared and locked TJ 44 in the rear of mine and i sold it in favor of an 8.8, mainly because i couldnt see cutting off brackets and regearing a perfectly good axle when i could start from scratch and have a bigger ring gear, 31 spline shafts, disc brakes and thicker axle tubes. If the C-Clips are that big of a concern to you then you can eliminate them, but i just have never heard of anyone breaking them so i will gladly beat the piss out of them until i find a weak point (granted i have a 2.5 but it does scream a lot). Ive seen a v8 f150 on 37s wail on his 8.8 bouncing the rev limiter like it was nothing.
I never saw where you said what type of wheeling or what size tires youd run. A hp44 can be had for cheap and if you swap in dana 50 gears (jana 54 is what they call them) you can have a stout axle, but you'll still have relatively weak outers compared to a 60. You can build a pretty stout hp44 for as bout as much as you can buy a stock junkyard 60, and be lighter. If moneys not an object to you, 609's are sick or custom 60 front with 40 spline ford 9 rear would be bad as well, but your gonna be spending as much on axles as you probably spent on buying your jeep.