If the front axle is leaking near the "seals" it would be item numbers 3 and 55 from the way it looks in the 2003 service manual. Your axles (not shown) attach to items number 1 and 57 and there should not be anything leaking near the CV ends of the axles except for the CV's which you said it wasn't them. It does look as though it could take some time to repair but not sure about the $900.00 cost, others may have a better answer on that.
Now, just a note/question, the rear axle does have seals (item number 7) out near the "hubs", he would not have been talking about them would he ?
Myself, I have a leak in the front end and find the fluid on the skid plate when I do a lube and tire rotation. I just clean up the skid plate, check the front diff fluid and add a little if needed (which is a pain in the @ss) but it is something I can live with at 86,000 miles for the time being.
Good luck, Ed
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