lighter parts are only better when they are as strong or stronger that what they are replacing.
we are not going to compare a briggs and stratton rod/piston to a LS1 now are we.
Comparing the weight/strength of parts in a 1.8l motor to the weight/strength of parts in a 302 is not apples to apples.
Sure they are lighter, they'd also fail on break in with a 302 piston hanging off the end.
Daily driver... ok, lets go there...
'69 F250 390FE C6 w/ 4.10's and it's done making power at 4200rpm. No 5th gear, and 1000rpm less range than my mustang... which is not my daily driver.
I freeway drive and have road trip'd in my F250... as well as ran it down the 1/4 and hauled 4000lbs of gravel/sod.
I really don't see what my daily driver has to do with it?
Will it last as long as my mustang... I have no idea... but with the frequent cold starts, and short trips combined with towing and hauling, I should imagine not, I doubt it will be on account of sustained rpm under unloaded conditions tho.
Ford picks thier gears based on emmissions and gas mileage... not performance.
Should someone pick thier rear gears based on power and et's... Heck Yes.