DEF performance claims

You've got the right idea, but I would like to present it from a slightly different perspective.

Adding SCR (by itself) doesn't increase reliability or service intervals.

EGR decreases reliability and shortens service intervals. Getting rid of it restores lost reliability and restores service intervals back to what they were before EGR shortened them.

So, from a big-picture perspective, replacing EGR with SCR is a way to restore lost reliability and service intervals.

 

God, that's depressing when you think about it.

 

In my 2 and 1/2 years of experience, i've had several issues with the DPF system.. i've had one truck that derated before it even left the company's lot just because the DEF tank sensor had failed.. i've had to pull over to the side of the road to cook the DPF countless times.. because the first cook didn't quite do the trick.
Besides the reliability issues, I seriously doubt that the increased manufacturing and parts and fluids is more environmentally friendly as opposed to the alternative.