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At least my old diff carrier is quite soft steel, or else I wouldn't have been able to machine it on my turning machine. If one used proper steel, lasercut the shims and surface-treated them they should last at least as long as the original diff carrier, especially as no one would abuse the diff like the farmers in the past with their belt-driven machines.
Of course, as long as good used carriers are available that won't be done because it's just not economic.