CHECK THIS THREAD OUT.
http://www.rc-monster.com/forum/show...8&goto=newpost
I kind of had the same questions that you did, but decided to go the Axial route with 40 series anyway. Gluing is just a PITA and just does not seem right to me. Personally I really like the setup and if you put the wheels together correctly they hold up just fine. As for the extra weight and or strain on your setup well you just have to make sure that you build your truck right for what you are doing with it. IMHO it is like you stated in the first place. If you play with a monster truck it should be big and beefy. That is just what a monster truck is. The stock wheel setup works great and that is why the MFR put them on there in the first place. So it is a personal preference thing as usual. Your not racing with the Pros on a track so the extra weight is not that big of an issue anyway. If you go big you just have to set your truck up to handle whatever you throw at it. If the motor is not fast enough, then go with a bigger motor. If you need stronger diffs, axles, or whatever, then rebuild your truck so it holds up. Thats the thing about this hobby. If you go stock, then you roll with everyone else. If that is your goal, then great. I like building rigs that are bigger, tougher, stronger, and faster then the rest. Your wheels are a big part of this factor and you have to go with what makes you feel happy about your setup. Take a look at that thread of "To glue or not to glue? It has some good tips for making your Axial/40 series wheels work well if that is the look and setup you wish to run. Good luck with whatever you decide, and have fun with it.