I used to have a LWB samurai, it performed better than my SWB in some aspects, such as hill climbing and descending, towing, and cornering. But got hung up a lot easier, and was harder in tight trails.
they perform basically the same, in my experience.
i think LWB's are cool in north America, so i'd go for a LWB, but if they are abundant there, then i guess its just whichever you prefer...