To be fair to Discoveries, we saw a convoy of them (various recent models) leaving the Simpson Desert when we were about to start the crossing. I guess I don't know whether they made the whole crossing or not, however none was being towed.
Having said this, on a recent long trip in Canada (25,000 km) we saw only five Defenders outside cities (one with its hood up, one on a recovery vehicle), and very few Discoveries.
In Africa, when I first lived there in 1973 LRs were everywhere; when were last there (10 months in 2017) they were rare; friends used one from Namibia to Tanzania and back and had numerous problems throughout the trip, although to be fair did get to Kenya and back.
My sense is that if you like fixing your own vehicles a LR is fine and the capability is good,.