Tandem Cycling - Shimano Tandem Hubs

Shimanos are quite a lot cheaper than Phil Wood or White Industries. We're a sub-300 lb. team, who will at some point do some extended touring - we have cycled, canoed and hiked light weight, but multiple months will mean more weight than a weekend trip. Peter White warns that the freehub body could give under the extreme torque of "heavy loaded touring in hilly terrain or mountain biking", but says they otherwise "hold up very well, and are a great value." I notice that Santana specs them in the SE level. I kinda like the fact that they have loose bearings that I get to take apart, clean, inspect and maybe put back in every so often. (Just what is the service interval on tandem wheel bearings?)

Is going with Shimanos to save $280 just a bad idea?

I would expect them to be quite durable and reliable. The reason I didn't choose them on our build was that I could only find them in 40 or 48 hole drillings.

We don't tour, and I prefer lower spoke count deep section rims.

Another consideration is the thread-on for a drum brake. I wanted to use a rear disc and I prefer not to use an adapter or set screw.

If you want 40 or 48 holes and a thread on, I doubt you can do better than Shimano. I agree about loose ball hubs- easier to adjust and parts cost pennies. I'm not a fan of cartridge bearing hubs, but its getting difficult not to buy them.

Is going with Shimanos to save $280 just a bad idea?

Not at all. Great hub, so long as you make sure you're buying an HF08 model, and not the HF07.