There is absolutely nothing about them that is better with 2 (possible) exceptions:
1. There are three years (86-88? 87-89?) that have dual circuit brakes if it is a USAF truck. The brakes don't work any better, they are just slightly safer in that it's a dual circuit system. Good luck finding parts for the system, though.
2. Technically, they are about 20 years newer than the average deuce, but with the frequency the military rebuilds trucks, I wouldn't bet on it being any nicer. clintogf has a 1985 USAF truck and her '69 Deuce is ten times nicer. A 40 year old truck that was rebuilt 5 years ago is going to be a better truck than a 25 year old truck that's never been rebuilt.
I am going to say something unpopular-up to a couple of years ago, these "late model" trucks were not considered to be anything special. And all of a sudden, a bunch of threads came up about them and it whipped up a frenzy around them and in my honest opinion, the people who own them did this in order to drive up the value of their vehicles.
I wouldn't pay a dime more for an '88 than a '68. Condition is key, not year.