As far as the 4wd goes, it works fine and it's a rather reliable system.

Manual hubs are more sought after because it actually unlocks and allows your wheels to spin freely. Auto hubs and a.d.d. hubs typically still keep the axles locked to an extent.

I'm sure that warn makes a kit to switch the hubs over to manual style hubs if you really want it.

If you plan on lifting it, look into options to see how it is lifted whether it is a bracket lift that will not change the angles on the cv shafts or some other method. The more angle put on the cv's, the more stress and that is when manual hubs are a nice advantage.

Are you looking for something to just drive on the street and use 4wd occasionally or to actually take offroad?