[dsraven]

I would say the pics with the blue engine are waiting for a failure of the stock joint that is at the uphill end of the shaft, before the new universal joint. can you imagine the heat in that area between the header pipes? no room for an insulating shroud either.
the bottom pic would last longer especially if the headers were swapped out for a pair that dumps forward more and keeps some of the heat away from the joint. room for a heat shroud is better in that scenario as well. by the looks of it.