Hub motors are heavy and unsprung weight is bad. If you're going inboard with driveshafts you might as well put a differential in there and be able to put more

Hub motors are heavy and unsprung weight is bad. If you're going inboard with driveshafts you might as well put a differential in there and be able to put more than 50% (2wd) or 25%(4wd) of power to one wheel. Putting a motor in each wheel means you can only direct power around by reducing it.