The reason that Tig welding is mandated on Cromoly, is that it doesn't cause embritment at the adjoining surface of the weld. Both stick and mig welding causes the metal close to the weld too get harder and fractures easier on any 4300 series steel. We do lot's of welding in the Plastic injection mold building business and we have everything from mig to laser welding equipment. We weld on repairing molds from every thing from 4340 mat'l to tool steel. Most Molds are built using 4340 mat'l and heat treated to 42/45 Rockwell hardness, same like rearend gears, except the pro gears which uses 9310 mat'l, which is the same except has more nickel mat'l in it.
The mig weld is absolutly as strong as tig, but it causes the embritment on cromoly. The mild steel chassis or roll cages do not have the embritment factor that cromoly doe's.
I can assure that every inch of weld on my roll cage in my Malibu is tig welded, because it's cromoly and it's only a 6.50 car in the 1/8 mi.
Zip.