Correct on the Dana 44 out back.
You're in TX so rust is less of a problem but who knows where the Jeep spent most of its life. Drill some drain holes in the frame, treat the inside with some Fluid Film and if you care, clean the outside of the frame and give it coat of POR15.
Might want to swap the battery cables.. those look like the originals.
JeepCables.com
Tires.. You're ready for a new set. Though there is still some life left in them, might still make sense to change since you'll be commuting. I have Falken WildPeaks. I daily drive mine. Like them well enough for four season use, but I see snow up this direction.
You didn't say how many miles it has. Super low is arguably worse than higher miles. Stuff dries out, brake lines and calipers clog and seize..
Change all the fluids. Go hose by hose and change any that are looking brittle.
The ride.. no reason it can't ride like a dream. Start with tire pressure... notoriously set too high. Maybe the cause for the excessive wear in the middle of your tires. Generally agreed upon 26 - 28 psi will result in a better ride. I have 33x12.5 on similar (if not the same) wheels. Tire pressure is 26psi unless loaded for camping. Ride quality is great. Makes me giggle when I drive it.
First image shows just a peak of your headlights. Do yourself (and others) a favor and get rid of the OE sealed beams. Tons of options, but the Toyota/Koita H4 kit is hard to argue against. H4 replaceable bulbs, HD harness to run higher wattage if you want and typically less than $40 for kit of late. There are a bunch of threads on this. Dig around.
Worth it to check the gearing. I don't know what's best for an auto, I have a 5 speed, but 33's will likely cause issues with the trans hunting for the right gear. Not urgent and not cheap, but once you get the gearing dialed in, you'll wish had done it sooner. This and tire pressure make a huge difference in the driving experience.
