Thats great it worked out Girard. The grills are just that, grills. Pretty good frontal protection. The Sledgehammers are like the Bulletproof designs guards, just a real thick grill to provide side impact protection as well. They seem like the BPD guards, short, like a "cap" for the front of the rad, leaving some of the rear exposed. If you drop the bike on a sharp rock that pushes the shroud in behind the guard, it will do no good.
If you guys think the AXP frames are weak, you could make new outer plates out of heavier gauge aluminum, and or add GP style braces.