Agreed=)

New axles last *much* longer. Rebuilders extrude hone the races which removes some of the heat-treated metal and install over size balls. Only GKN/Lobros seem to do some sort of re-heat treatment process.
The hardness of the metal is directly related to the depth in case-hardening( I believe they are nitrated). So, at the surface it's Rc=85, at 0.010" it's 60-65min, and at 0.020" it's Rc=50. Failure of the bearing is not at the surface in fatigue. It's a shear stress failure, assuming the surface material doesn't yield. Anyway, it's easy to see how going from 85 to 50 on the rockwell hardness scale would effect live.
Never got lucky enough to R&R a car with the later style joints.

Michael

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Michael McGuire
83 300d
01 vw A4 TDI
66 Chevy Corsa
68 GMC V6 w/oD
86 300E