Good point. Maybe this is a stupid question but what is the real advantage of 38" tires and a PR60 over 40's and a PR80? You lose an inch clearance with the PR80 but gain an inch and a half over a 37" tire in height over the axle. On a 38" you gain another 1/2" over a 37" but don't lose the inch of ground clearance? is it just cosmetics? If it is, you also deal with significantly higher rotating mass…..
Personally, I would stick with a 37 or a 40 if only because they are a common size and easier to find a spare if needed. 38 is just a weird size and unless you're just going to pound the pavement, I would steer clear of it. Having said that, 37's are a great size tire that'll get you going on just about any trail out there. It's what we run on Rubicat and what we used on the last JKX. 40's look badass for sure and will allow you to play that much harder but, unless you're playing out in places like Johnson Valley or Florence Junction on a regular basis, I might stick with 37's especially being that you seem to be having some heartache spending the kind of money to do it right.