I noticed that Polaris puts fittings on all U-joints and pivot points. Is this better than the maintenance free bushings and bearings on other machines? Polaris doesn't use any rubber boots either.

 

i think it is better if you keep them greased they will last longer, yeah it is more of a pain than non greaseable ones but I have never had to replace a bearing in a Polaris cannot say the same for other makes that I have owned.

 

If you grease them as you should, they will last & last. Don't like to grease, the sealed ones will go farther.
My dad has an old car with 210,000 miles. The u-joints have been replaced once - to the greasable kind at about 50,000 miles. Also, the one steering joint without a zerk is the only one that wore out so far. We give every zerk a shot or two every 2500 miles (with oil change). The trick is to grease often enough to keep it lubed, but not so much to blow the seals.