I have owned both YJs and TJs.
As stated above, the coil-sprung TJ is far more capable, both on road and off road.
Soft top vs. hard top-
90% of the road noise with a soft top is the doors. A soft top with hard doors isn't too bad.
When I drove the YJ with soft top for long distances, I used foam ear plugs to minimize the thrumming of the soft windows.
....And by "long distances" with a leaf-sprung YJ, that means anything over three blocks.
My wife's current daily driver is a TJ Rubicon, and yes, with a lift kit and big tires.