Each to their own. My opinion is the ZF autos are one of the best out there. The have sublime shifts and handle awesome power and torque. As for maintenance, like anything they need it. If you want to service yours every 40,000km, who am I to argue, but I'd suggest you're over servicing it. 
As for the transfer case locking up causing a gearbox issue? I think you're stretching reality like an episode of Dr Who, but hey, maybe getting some professionals to look at the car has highlighted a preexisting issue? 
While there's forum talk of gearbox issues, I'd suggest they're in the very small percentages in reality to the number of boxes sold.
				
			 
			
		 
			
				
			
			
				2010 TDV6 3.0L Discovery 4 HSE
2007 Audi RS4 (B7)
			
			
		 
	
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