Yes.  I laid it all out in a podcast.  Are you willing to listen to that or would you prefer me to type it out?

I can't really find the podcast at the moment...Doh!

So here are my thoughts.  Take them for what they are.  I've never ran hydro assist but i have had full hydro and i've driven hydro assist jeeps.

First impressions is that the box is way beefier than the factory box.  35mm factor sector shaft to 42mm XD Box.  The bore which you can't see is bigger also and that's were the magic happens.  The webbing on the casting looks beefier as well.

Jeff did the instal and I wasn't present for that so I can't weigh in on that.  Just don't let your steering wheel move from the center position.

The XD Box is cheap compared to Hydro Assist.  That's the lure to the box along with the fact that it is beefed up over the factory box.  If I was on 37's and smaller and needed to replace my factory box, and I have no intentions of ever going to 40s, I would get the XD Box.  That's a no brainer.  Stronger, it has more turning force and relatively non invasive installation.  

The real question comes in when you are sitting on 37s and have the thought of one day going to 40's and already feel like your steering is potentially a weak link.  This is where I think money and wheeling style will come into play.  If you can't spend $2k on hydro assist, then the XD box is a great choice.  If you are light on the pedal and don't mind working the vehicle a little to position the rig on the right line then the XD box will work for you.

The XD Box feel like the factory box on 37's to me being on 60s and 40's.  I can't just turn into a wall and the jeep will go that way.  Sometimes the steering wheel fights back.  That's fine, I just back up and don't fight it.

The beauty of hydro assist is the steering goes where ever you want it to.  No questions asked.  But, sometimes that wears on components that you may not mean to wear on. (Kevin for example)

I'm running the factory pump with the XD Box and was told to try the high pressure pump with the box and that would supposedly give me even more turning power.  So that is a future upgrade I will try.

As of right now, I am happy with my steering.  I don't plan to upgrade to hydro anytime soon.  I do get feedback from the road while driving in the steering wheel occasionally.  

k-jeep said
If they have a ported version, you could get that and add hydro-assist later.  

When I last spoke to PSC, they were still working on the ported versions.  But, when they come out, that is the way I would push people.  Buy the ported xd box and upgrade along the way.

JohnDF said
Thanks for taking the time to answer that for me. It seems like an interesting upgrade if I decide to stay on 37s.  

No problem.  I would say that PSC was trying to fill the gap for people on 35s-37s.  They want a steering box upgrade but don't want to spend the coin on the hydro assist.  There is always going to be someone pushing the envelope and I would say you can run the box with 40s.  You just need to know the limitations.  But when I say limitations, I'm not concerned about breaking a sector shaft or anything.  But don't expect to get on the slabs on the con turn both lockers on and make a u turn like you would with open diffs.

I have just over 7k miles on my box with a full week in Moab, a trip to Shaver Lake/Bald Mountain, 4+ trips to Fordyce to the first creek, Strawberry, Nevada, and other little trips all on 40s and I haven't heard a peep from the steering box.