Well labor is not considered in, I have rebuilt one and I will rebuild/overhaul others. I still figure the price of a 241 new not used. After you rebuild a t-case you can consider it new.
The hassle to get find one for the right price, and if I am not mistaken make the room for it in your cherokee, I would just play around with my 231.
This is why the Jeep world is so great. You get multiple opinions on how to do your rig, but the bottom line do what you want to do. Its your money.
And again I emphasize, the 241 is very stout.