If you do get the 76, there is hope you can do PM turns. I’ve only been here a few years and holding them steady for a while now. I haven’t been away from home!!
as far as the drive, I know of some captains and FOs that do the drive daily for PM turns. But YMWV. Some like it some don’t, at least there are different choices for you. If you end up in ANC however, SOL. QOL sucks there if you commute.

If you’re assigned a heavy class, I imagine you’re headed to ANC for a while. How long does it typically take until you can hold SDF on the 74 or MD?

Last heavy class had 4 MD11 SDF and 8 ANC 74s. So you have a decent shot at sdf out the gate. But definitely skews toward anchorage. Very difficult to predict how long until to hold sdf 74. I would go in assuming at least 18 months of commuting up there.

I concur. Plan for 24 months and hope for less.

Currently at a ACMI flying the triple. Does UPS take your preferences for aircraft selection into account or will they put you where your experience matches? Or both?

You will likely get the heavy class based on experience. You will then rank the 74 anc vs the sdf MD11. Your age relative to the other new hires determines your seniority in the class and therefore voting order. You don’t get to choose light vs heavy.

Purely seniority based within your class. They will put you into a heavy or light twin class at their convenience.