A member here did something similar to your #2 idea,
Old style vs New style ARB's. He routed the hardline up over the top of the ring gear along the 3rd member housing, drilled 1/16" holes in the edge of the housing and wired the hardline to the housing. It was posted about 2yrs ago. I haven't had any issue w/the new system in my '91, it routes up over the gear instead of behind it, but it did take several attempts to install it and not hear/feel the ring gear rubbing against the hardline.