Not sure where to post this...

I have a Sturmey-Archer hub with drum brake and generator. "Only" problem is that the axle is stripped and the bearings shot - a year since the last time the bearings chewed themselves to bits. It was on my Xtracycle, which I ride 6000 miles/ year or thereabouts.

I really like the drum brakes in nasty weather, and I really like the generator hub. I don't like that it consumes itself on a regular basis. I've got disk brakes in the back so I don't really *need* the drum brakes...
Any experience with high mileage and generator hubs? What about SHimano? Any stories out there?