I have a steel housing, stainless steel inner axle tubes, VP clamping c-hubs, VP knuckles, VP brass knuckle weights, 2 per side: Dlux add-on brass rings (these aren't meant to fit the VP weights, but I made them work), LURC heavyweight FI spool, Axial hardened steel ring & pinion, Dlux U4 axle truss/servo mount, Savox 2290sg servo (mounted behind the front axle), stainless steel tie rod, Axial universal joint axles, 10mm wide clamping wheel hexes, some random aluminum diff cover, diff packed FULL of grease, and probably some other junk I'm forgetting. It all adds up!
That's not necessarily 2lbs MORE than a stock axle assembly, but 2lbs(ish... it might have actually been a little heavier) total axle weight. That's easily more than a full pound over stock, and my wallet is much lighter too! With that amount of weight down low, out front, it never leaves me wanting more even on an 8lb car. Besides, it's cheaper/easier to lose weight from the rear and/or from up high now than it would be to try to figure out how to add weight out front/down low. All else equal, a lighter car generally performs better.