I don't have a detroit. My understanding of how they operate is that if you COAST through a corner, you aren't slipping anything...it's "unlocked". If you hit the throttle while turning, it will lock, and to some degree you will induce tire scrubbing. Most people say they don't really notice it causing massive tire wear or anything.
Gov-lock and the helical units are the only ones that aren't slipping to some extent, that aren't true lockers. I think you are worrying about wear too much. The Eaton posi units work for decades. But I don't think that's an issue, GM saw fit not to use the clutch style limited slip in trucks, only gov-locks, so that should tell you something about posi applicability in a heavy vehicle.
I've only felt the gov-lock when I spun the tires from a stop or very slow speed, and since the wheel spin means you have minimal traction in the first place, the engagement isn't brutal. Normal driving you'll never notice it, because it's not locking up.
I don't think the truetrac would be bad for mild wheeling, but what do they cost vs. a gov-lock carrier or complete axle assembly? You'd be one of the first on here I've heard of that will run a truetrac. Still not sure how you'd know it was working.
I'm not worried, I'm just soaking up all the tech. I'm at least a month out from needing the rear axle, so I have time to think it over, and I have time to shop around for something that's cost effective. Although, if cost was my only concern, I would have bought the Eaton posi unit and been done with it. But I want to be happy with the end result, and I want to learn as much as I can along the way.
As said before, if I came across a gov-lock axle, I'd happily run it (and no doubt it would be cheap!). But having not found one yet, I'm looking at my other options. If I had to buy a new locker, I'm still leaning toward the Powertrax. But my final decision will probably be swayed by what I find cheaply and conveniently available.
). So I have mismatching gear ratios and mismatching lug patterns. I've located an 8-lug front axle for the build, and I am gathering the parts to rebuild and regear the rear end to 3.73 with some form of locker. Hence starting this thread. I'd much rather get the locker figured out before I start reassembling the axle than wind up ripping the axle apart later.

