what is the best class for ssf or hc? what would be the best strategy for staying alive the longest?

I feel like finding the class which best bypasses the limitations of ssf kinda defeats the point.

I'd suggest for 'levels fine naked' classes like enchanters or other casters would be to try out other limitations - perhaps getting other creatures to do your bidding could be considered breaking the 'self' aspect, so no getting charmed NPCs or extra-planar assistants, dead ancestors to kill enemies for you, etc.

I prefer funded because it's well within EQs design philosophy to spend years getting decked out in nice and cool droppables.

necro or bard

the best strategy for staying alive the longest is to not die...hope this helps

Don't run, walk.

Running is like having a permanent run speed buff.

Or, more correctly a walk speed buff.