locked front = less stress??

Locked front is a lot harder on everything else, including you trying to turn the wheel.
IMO unless its for competition only i'd stay away from a locked front.
open or limited slip is best.

Even in most straight line mud drags, the open front is better. My times dropped and the truck went much faster when I pulled the spool out of the front and went back to open. Plus I didn't break a shaft every time the truck slid and hit a wall. Now it jsut keeps on going!

Never, never, never lock the front end! Did I mention never?