I would not recommend it for very long, but you can drive a CDL-equipped D2 without the front driveshaft if you have to. A 2000 should have a CDL.
Definitely spend the money for a good driveshaft. I put the cheaper stock-style one from Lucky 8 in one of my trucks and it vibrated as bad as the 109K stock unit. The Tom Woods front shaft in one of my 04 D2s vibrates around 75mph+. I had a local driveshaft shop rebalance it after about 3,000 miles and its better, but still noticeable. Very stout unit, but may be more for offroaders than a grocery-getter. I might just have bad luck with front shafts though, as the "rebuilt" unit I recently bought from a local Rover place sounded like rocks in a blender just pulling away from my driveway.