That's the $64,000 question (+ TT&L...or $5250 plus freight in the case of the Icon Stage 1). Probably the same question about half of Raptor owners contend with, well unless you actually use it as intended then it's more like 90% heh. I'm no expert and I have already overthought it to death in my head on my own truck.
Anyway the way I'm looking at it is, how much and how harsh is the offroad side of the coin? One chase run in Baja a year? Just washboard roads at home or any TX runs? If reality is more like 80/20 street/dirt, and you get 9000 miles-ish out of rebuilt stock 2.5's (couldn't find how long it was since you had them rebuilt), you might be better off doing those semi-regularly and maybe adding Deavers and rear bumps when/if you can. If it's 50/50 or better I would take a serious look at DSC Fox or Kings (just IMHO) as the adjustability alone will allow you the better of both worlds (I've read Icon shocks are digressive so firm/harsh on small stuff and softer on bigger hits-someone correct me if I'm wrong), along with Deavers and bumps, maybe UCA's. I'd think anything like 20/80 and you're into crazy long travel, cage, bank heist for funding, wife making you sleep on the couch territory. Not that that's a bad thing, just not for everybody.
As an aside, how much of the current ****** ride is kinetic and how much is just auditory? I mean, do you feel it or hear it? Checked balljoints lately? Probably too soon for a-arm pivots, but is everything tight like wheel bearings, tie rods, CV's, etc.?
With my OCD, I've done my best to squeak/rattle proof my truck. However, after the hard freeze we had, some of the felt tape I put on the inside of the door panels and interior plastic bits has shrunk and moved around, so some minor rattles have come back. This will all be fixed soon.
Out of 41,000 miles, I will estimate I've put just over 5,000 miles off road. So I'm at the usual 90/10 split. That being said, my off road miles include everything from 70 mph washboard roads, to CAREFULLY pruning portions of the 500 (its a support vehicle for 2 bikes, got to drive it home). But, when I need my truck to perform off road, I need it to perform flawlessly. My thinking of going to 3.0's is it would add reliability and durability to the shocks when in Mexico. Less fade, no cheep lower shock bushings that last 5000 miles, more dampening, etc. Would 3.0's make my on road ride any better than it is now, maybe a little, but knowing my self, I'd probably pop the stockers back in for the other 11 months out of the year. Worth the 5 grand upgrade? Meh...
I don't see bump stops as a necessity for me. I'm mindful enough of the terrain to avoid big hits. Baja kits UCA's are only going on the truck if the stockers are worn out. I'm all about the deavers, but I can't afford the reduced payload capacity when I'm already over the max when carrying 2 bikes, tools, gear, fuel and a lot of beer. Custom deavers are an option, but I've never had an issue with wheel chatter with the bed carrying a couple hundred pounds and the tires aired down to 30 psi. In short, I'm stuck wishing in one hand and ******** in the other.
Every April I start researching Fox, King, and Icon's in preparation for our Baja 500 trip. I've just never pulled the trigger. Almost everyone I come across in Mexico has either Fox or King 3.0's on their truck. I usually strike up a conversation about them and the answers are always the same. DO IT, WAY BETTER, blah blah blah. Those guys are racers, and probably only use their raptors off road and have smooth California streets to drive on. So I take their info with a grain of salt.
Lets take a more logical approach to my conundrum:
3.0's
$5,000
10,000 - 20,000 mile service life
$400 - $700 service cost (guessing)
Better off road ride
Worse on road ride (compared to stock)
They look cool
Factory 2.5's
Free
Yearly service (mileage is hit or miss with me)
$400 - $700 service cost (local guy vs sending them to California)
OK off road performance
Awesome on road ride
Stock = Lame
AndysLog(jammer), don't let that ego get too big...
hopefully it'll follow the old shocks and not the truck 
