My results are the exact opposite.
I got tired of needing 'soldier B' to do a TON of stuff on the deuce.
I super singled mine and replaced the split rims with six lug budd wheels, which handle commercial 22" tires. So only six tires needed IF you do the super single conversion.
Instead of using the M1008 as a comparison vehicle, consider the M1028 dually. MONSTER truck. Can handle a bunch of weight. Add an M101a2 trailer and you now have at least the ability to carry ALMOST as much as a deuce without a trailer. At 65 mph my dually gets 10mpg, which is the best my deuce ever got and 65 mph, while easily achievable with the 22" wheels and Michelin radials, you still have to stop the beast at those speeds. And a panic stop in a deuce? Not gonna happen.
Even in my dually a panic stop is, uh, interesting to say the least. And if you were pulling a trailer, forget about a panic stop.
But I did sell my deuce and eventually now have two M1009's, an M1028a2, an M101a1 and an M101a2. Plus a spare 6.2, a spare TH400 and a spare NP208.
Like I said, I just got tired of all the extras. Extra expense, extra work, extra hands needed to DO said maintenance, etc.
And I get ALL SORTS of thumbs ups and looks and my dually (painted solid 383 Carc) is indeed a crowd pleaser and a crowd magnet.
But yeah, GID will get yah. And once bit, you just surrender. What's the best truck? What you want to get out of it? A daily driver? I'd stay with something smaller. BUT for a toy? NOTHING BEATS A DEUCE. So if you just gotta, GO FOR IT.
OH, one thing about owning a deuce. MAKE SURE IT'S KEWL TO PARK IT AT YOUR PLACE. Nothing worse than getting it home, only to be told 'you can't park that here' from the HOA or the NIS or whomever. So before dropping big bucks, do your research and make sure you can actually park it WHERE YOU WANT.