Shock Stiffness vs. Suspension Wear

[TheTrueMoron]

I have the Rancho Quicklift Loaded leveling kit on the front of my truck, and they have the adjustable shocks that allow you to adjust the ride firmness. My question is: will the firmness affect the other suspension components and joints on the truck? I'm worried that too stiff or too soft might make some of the bushing and other components work harder by absorbing some of the shock from bumps. Is a firmer, or is a softer setting better for the whole front end?